Reid calls procedure on climate and energy bill in flux

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday that he wants to move forward on energy and climate legislation but that the procedural pathway for the measure is uncertain.

Reid spoke to reporters after former President Bill Clinton used an appearance at the Senate Democrats’ weekly caucus lunch to argue that such a measure is key to the U.S. economy.

“We know we have to do something with energy. The issue before us is how do we do it,” Reid said in the Capitol.

Reid noted that the Energy and Natural Resources Committee has already approved a broad energy measure.

The bill the committee passed last June includes a host of energy efficiency measures, a national renewable electricity mandate, and wider oil-and-gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, among many other provisions. But it does not impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

“The question is, do we amend that with the climate change stuff, or do we come up with a new bill to take care of all that?” Reid said.

The main action in the Senate right now is the effort by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to craft a compromise climate and energy measure outside of the committee process.

Lieberman told reporters Tuesday that they hope to have draft legislative language by the end of next week to provide to EPA for modeling.

Reid acknowledged that energy and climate legislation has been “pushed to the side” by the health care debate, but added he plans to meet with committee chairs on the issue soon. It remains unclear if the Senate will take up a broad energy and climate measure this year.

Reid called Clinton’s appearance before the caucus compelling. “President Clinton came to the caucus and in his very matter-of-fact, substantive way talked about the need to do climate change. He is very persuasive,” Reid said.

According to Reid, Clinton discussed how his travels around the world with his foundation have left him believing that a better energy policy is needed.

“Where he travels, one of the things people ask is ‘Why aren't you folks doing something with energy that's significant? You're not setting a good example for the rest of the world,’” Reid said in describing Clinton’s remarks to the caucus.