Lieberman: ‘detailed narrative’ of climate bill en route

The Senate trio trying to salvage climate legislation this year plans to begin circulating details of their long-awaited proposal very soon, said Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), one of the architects of the measure.

“Hopefully within a week or so we will have at least a detailed narrative to share,” Lieberman told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday afternoon.

Lieberman and Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)  discussed their plan for over an hour with a group of colleagues in the Capitol Tuesday.

The three senators are planning a climate and energy measure that scraps the “economy-wide” cap-and-trade plan that the House approved last year, but has not gained traction in the Senate.

It remains unclear if their approach – which might include a cap-and-trade program for power plants and a carbon tax or fee on motor fuels – can fare any better and win a spot on the election-year floor agenda.

They met today with a group of colleagues including: Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio). 

“We made a lot of progress I thought,” Kerry said after exiting the meeting. He also noted that he has been meeting with other Republicans.

Lawmakers emerging from the meeting – one of several that Kerry, Graham and Lieberman are holding with various colleagues –  called the session a broad discussion rather than talks about specifics or details.

“There were some interesting things that were discussed in there and like everything else in the United States Senate, the devil is in the details,” Voinovich said, noting he wanted to hear more about the plans. “There is more meat that has got to be put on the bones.”

“They are very anxious to work with us to make sure that what is in there is good for manufacturing,” noted Stabenow, while Baucus called the new effort “refreshing” and said it shows “new thinking.”

Less clear still is when the plan will morph into actual legislation. Kerry, asked if he envisioned introducing a bill by Easter (which is in early April), replied “that would be nice.”