Kerry, Graham pen op-ed on climate legislation

Democrats picked up a prominent Republican supporter for their climate legislation this morning as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) joined John Kerry in a NYT op-ed urging passage of cap-and-trade legislation.

The two senators wrote that they both agree on five basic premises: (1) climate change is real; (2) the U.S. should take an all-inclusive approach to renewable energy; (3) climate change represents an opportunity to ween the country off foreign oil; (4), climate legislation can't and won't cost American jobs; and (5) the bill will protect small businesses. 

The op-ed closes with a plea for passage:

The message to those who have stalled for years is clear: killing a Senate bill is not success; indeed, given the threat of agency regulation, those who have been content to make the legislative process grind to a halt would later come running to Congress in a panic to secure the kinds of incentives and investments we can pass today. Industry needs the certainty that comes with Congressional action.

We are confident that a legitimate bipartisan effort can put America back in the lead again and can empower our negotiators to sit down at the table in Copenhagen in December and insist that the rest of the world join us in producing a new international agreement on global warming. That way, we will pass on to future generations a strong economy, a clean environment and an energy-independent nation.

Graham's support is significant: climate legislaiton, like healthcare, may very well need 60 votes to pass. Even one Republican supporter could make the difference id midwest Democrats from energy-intensive states balk at the legislation.