House Dems ready amendments for climate bill markup

After keeping their powder dry this week, House Democrats plan to offer amendments next week when the Energy and Commerce Committee considers GOP legislation to prevent federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

“We will have amendments,” said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the committee’s top Democrat, in the Capitol Friday.

Committee Chairman Fred Upton’s (R-Mich.) bill cleared the panel’s Energy and Power subcommittee along party lines Thursday, and Democrats did not offer proposals to alter the plan.

Democratic amendments next week would be unlikely to pass, but would provide Democrats a chance to force votes that highlight their criticisms of the bill.

Waxman has called the bill an affront to science, noting the consensus view among scientists that global warming is occurring and that human activities — notably burning fossil fuels — are a major reason why.

But Upton and Energy and Power subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfied (R-Ky.) have shied away from scientific debates, instead emphasizing their view that EPA regulations will harm the economy and job creation (a view that supporters of emissions rules dispute).

Asked Friday if a Democratic amendment to put members on the record about climate science is in the offing next week, Waxman replied, “That would be an interesting vote,” and said such a plan “could be” offered.

Upton’s bill has 40 co-sponsors, including three Democrats. One of them, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), told reporters Friday the bill will pass the House but cannot pass the Senate.

But he said it could provide running room for less aggressive bills to thwart EPA rules and lead to compromise.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has long been shopping his bill that would delay EPA regulation of sources like power plants and factories for two years.

“Two-year [delay] is easier to pass the other body obviously, and maybe something gets into a conference before all is said an done,” Rahall said, referring to conference committees that form to reconcile competing bills approved in the House and Senate.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Thursday that Upton’s bill is expected to come before the full House “in the next couple of weeks.”