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Sen. Sanders, after US hits heat record, floats new climate bill
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is floating legislation to impose fees on greenhouse gas emitters, a plan that’s highly unlikely to advance but shows that liberal lawmakers intend to ramp up calls to tackle global warming in the new Congress.
Sanders announced the bill a day after federal officials reported that 2012 was the hottest year on record in the lower 48 states, smashing the record set in 1998 by a full degree Fahrenheit.
The bill from Sanders would create a “transparent fee on greenhouse gas emissions from the biggest polluters,” his office said in a brief summary.
“After the hottest year on record and extreme weather disturbances such as Hurricane Sandy, we must take strong action to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels and move toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy,” said Sanders, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “I intend to introduce legislation in the Senate to do just that.”
But the record heat and violent weather is nonetheless leading Democrats to seek the political offensive on climate change.
Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) recently said she’s establishing an ad-hoc “climate change clearinghouse” with two other Senate committee chairmen that will promote administrative action and legislation.
Environmentalists are pressing President Obama to take tougher steps using his administrative powers, including establishment of first-time carbon emissions standards for existing power plants.
Sanders' plan also aims to boost green energy development and nix tax incentives for oil companies.
“It will call for an historic investment in efficiency, sustainable energy, advanced transportation infrastructure, and clean energy research and development. The measure also would end fossil fuel subsidies and tax breaks,” his office said.
