Thread: House Narrowly Advances Climate Bill to the Floor

The vote was 217-205 to advance the White House-backed legislation to the floor, and 30 Democrats defected, a reflection of the controversy the bill sparked.

Friday, June 26, 2009

House Democrats narrowly won a key test vote Friday on sweeping legislation to combat global warming and usher in a new era of cleaner energy. Republicans said the bill included "the largest tax increase in American history."

The vote was 217-205 to advance the White House-backed legislation to the floor, and 30 Democrats defected, a reflection of the controversy the bill sparked.

The legislation would impose limits for the first time on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, factories and refineries. It also would force a shift from coal and other fossil fuels to renewable and more efficient forms of energy. Supporters and opponents agreed the result would be higher energy costs, but disagreed widely on the impact on consumers.

President Obama has made the measure a top priority of his first year in office. The president, along with White House aides and House Democratic leaders, scrambled for the votes to assure passage. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has pledged to get the legislation passed before lawmakers leave on their July 4 vacation.

The Senate has yet to act on the measure, and a major struggle is expected.

In the House, the bill's fate depended on the decisions of a few dozen fence-sitting Democrats, mainly conservatives and moderates from contested districts who feared the political ramifications of siding with the White House and their leadership on the measure.

Democrats left little or nothing to chance. Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., confirmed by the Senate on Thursday to an administration post, put off her resignation from Congress until after the final vote on the climate change bill.

"The bill contains provisions to protect consumers, keep costs low, help sensitive industries transition to a clean energy economy and promote domestic emission reduction efforts," the White House in a statement of support for the legislation.

Republicans saw it differently.

This "amounts to the largest tax increase in American history under the guise of climate change," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.

While the bill would impose a "cap-and-trade" system that would force higher energy costs, Republicans for weeks have branded it an energy tax on every American.

But Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said there was a "moral imperative to be good stewards of the earth."

The legislation, totaling about 1,200 pages, would require the U.S. to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and about 80 percent by the next century.

U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are rising at about 1 percent a year and are predicted to continue increasing without mandatory caps.

Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants. It would distribute pollution allowances that could be bought and sold, depending on whether a facility exceeds the cap or makes greater pollution cuts than are required.

Obama on Thursday called it "a vote of historic proportions ... that will open the door to a clean energy economy" and green jobs. "It will create millions of new jobs," Pelosi insisted.

Both Obama and Pelosi preferred to focus on the economic issues rather than on what environmentalists view as the urgency of reducing carbon emissions blamed for global warming.

The Rust Belt coal-state Democrats who have been sitting on the fence worry about how to explain their vote for higher energy prices to people back home -- and how the vote might play out in elections next year.

Republicans have been quick to exploit those concerns.

"Democratic leaders are poised to march many moderate Democrats over a cliff ... by forcing them to vote for a national energy tax that is unpopular throughout the heartland," Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said.

There was widespread agreement that under this cap-and-trade system, the cost of energy would almost certainly increase. But Democrats argued that much of the impact on taxpayers would be offset by other provisions in the bill. Low-income consumers would qualify for credits and rebates to cushion the impact on their energy bills.

Two reports issued this week -- one from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the other from the Environmental Protection Agency -- seemed to support that argument.

The CBO analysis estimated that the bill would cost an average household $175 a year; the EPA put it at between $80 and $110 a year.

Republicans questioned the validity of the CBO study and noted that even that analysis showed actual energy production costs increasing $770 per household. Industry groups have cited other studies showing much higher cost to the economy and to individuals.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06 ... latestnews

actual energy production costs increasing $770 per household. Industry groups have cited other studies showing much higher cost to the economy and to individuals.

Can "We the People" afford this per household?

I have been calling all morning and the lines are busy not only for my congressmen but also for the main switch board.

I tried to get thru yesterday but never could on either line due to the "ciruits being busy".

I hope any congressmen who voted for this bill gets booted out of office in 16 months.

The woman at Congresswoman Bean's office (8th Dist Illinois) refused to tell me how her boss would vote. I let her know I would find out before 2010. She was very polite and listened to everything I had to say - at least that's in her favor. I suspect she didn't want to tell me the Congresswoman voted in favor. She tends to be a rubber stamp for the great one's wishes.

Our country is done. The Marxists have completely taken over. They no longer care what the people think. When are the people going to rise up? We need to learn from Iran because thats where we are headed. Shame on the American people for allowing this. I will never give up even when they come to take me away because of my belief in freedom. Our votes obviously mean nothing anymore. These people arnt afraid because voting here is as corrupt as in Iran. Acorn will be in charge of it. Just look at Minnesota. I am so ticked off, I cant take it.

If anyone can find a role call of the vote, please post. Thank you.

UPDATE ON BILL June 26th, 2009


Today, Congress will vote on the destructive cap-and-tax legislation. You know it's horrible. You know it will destroy prosperity. You know it will enable the government to transform the economy—which is never a good idea. You know it will cause energy prices to soar.

And you know what to do. If you have the time, please contact to your Representatives as this debate unfolds. The Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

Also, here is a list of key votes that, based on this morning's key procedural vote, need to be focused on. Please help! The nation's future prosperity depends on it:

Target Republicans:

Vern Buchanan (FL-13)
Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5)
Joseph Cao (LA-2)
Vern Ehlers (MI-3)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11)
Jim Gerlach (PA-6)
Tim Johnson (IL-15)
Mark Kirk (IL-10)
Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01)

202-225-5015
202-225-1002
202-225-6636
202-225-3831
202-225-5034
202-225-4315
202-225-2371
202-225-4835
202-225-3765
202-225-4806

Target Democrats:

Frank Kratovil (MD-1)
Chet Edwards (TX-17)
Brad Ellsworth (IN-Cool
John Boccieri (OH-16)
Mark Schauer (MI-7)
Gary Peters (MI-9)
Larry Kissell (NC-Cool
Chris Carney (PA-10)
Steve Driehaus (OH-16)
Harry Teague (NM-2)
Joe Donnelly (IN-2)
Ciro Rodriquez (TX-23)
Alan Grayson (FL-Cool
Betsy Markey (CO-04)
Alan Mollohan (WV-01)
Tim Walz (MN-01)

202-225-5311
202-225-6105
202-225-4636
202-225-3876
202-225-6276
202-225-5802
202-225-3715
202-225-3731
202-225-2216
202-225-2365
202-225-3915
202-225-4511
202-225-2176
202-225-4676
202-225-4172
202-225-2472

In today's Liberty Action Report, Congress must reject carbon caps to save the economy, Obama's silence on the massacre of democracy in Iran is tragic, Barney Frank wants more cheap loans for condo purchases, and government health care will invariably disfavor the elderly.

Please send your letters to the editor at Robert@getliberty.org. We publish all points of view! Today,
George Bennett, Jr. of Libuse, LA writes in part, "Obama wants you to pay for your neighbor's mortgage, government owned banks, and Union-owned automakers; all unconstitutional while the watch dogs (press) salivate at his glance, allowing him to turn the most powerful country in the world into a USSR-style failure. Just when you think someone might start complaining(or at least tell the truth) about this peaceful destruction of our country, Obama says he wants taxpayers and their employers to pay for those same neighbor's who don't have health insurance. These communists also want to take over the energy industry with 'cap and trade'! If the press doesn't start waking up the sleeping electorate with the truth, nothing will stop the takeover."

A vigilant press is one of the requirements of a functioning democracy. The controlled media assuredly weakens our liberty by restricting access to information that criticizes the Obama regime. Keep the mail coming, and call your Representatives today before they nationalize the energy sector! Take care.

Robert Romano – Senior Editor
Carter Clews – Executive Editor
Bill Wilson – President


http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll466.xml

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 466
(Democrats in roman; Republicans in italic; Independents underlined)

H RES 587 RECORDED VOTE 26-Jun-2009 11:22 AM
QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution
BILL TITLE: Providing for consideration of H.R. 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act

Ayes Noes PRES NV
Democratic 217 30 8
Republican 175 3
Independent
TOTALS 217 205 11


---- AYES 217 ---

Abercrombie
Adler (NJ)
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Baldwin
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boccieri
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chandler
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Driehaus
Edwards (MD)
Edwards (TX)
Ellison
Ellsworth
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Giffords
Gonzalez
Gordon (TN)
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Hare
Heinrich
Herseth Sandlin
Higgins
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hodes
Holden
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kilroy
Kind
Kirkpatrick (AZ)
Kissell
Klein (FL)
Kosmas
Kratovil
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Luján
Lynch
Maffei
Markey (CO)
Markey (MA)
Massa
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McMahon
McNerney
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy (NY)
Murphy, Patrick
Murtha
Nadler (NY)
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Perlmutter
Perriello
Peters
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Polis (CO)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Rodriguez
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sánchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schauer
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sestak
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sires
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Space
Speier
Spratt
Stupak
Sutton
Tanner
Tauscher
Teague
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velázquez
Visclosky
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Weiner
Welch
Wexler
Wilson (OH)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth

---- NOES 205 ---

Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Altmire
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Baird
Barrett (SC)
Barrow
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boozman
Boren
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bright
Broun (GA)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Cao
Capito
Carney
Carter
Cassidy
Castle
Chaffetz
Childers
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Crenshaw
Dahlkemper
Davis (KY)
Davis (TN)
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Doggett
Dreier
Duncan
Ehlers
Emerson
Fallin
Fleming
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Griffith
Guthrie
Hall (TX)
Halvorson
Harman
Harper
Hastings (WA)
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Hill
Hoekstra
Holt
Hunter
Inglis
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan (OH)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline (MN)
Kucinich
Lamborn
Lance
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lee (NY)
Lewis (CA)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Marshall
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McCotter
McHenry
McHugh
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
Melancon
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Minnick
Mitchell
Moran (KS)
Murphy, Tim
Myrick
Neugebauer
Nunes
Nye
Olson
Paul
Paulsen
Pence
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Posey
Price (GA)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rahall
Rehberg
Reichert
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Salazar
Scalise
Schmidt
Schock
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Souder
Stark
Stearns
Taylor
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walden
Wamp
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)

---- NOT VOTING 11 ---

Ackerman
Culberson
Flake
Hastings (FL)
Kennedy
Lewis (GA)
Maloney
Mollohan
Sullivan
Walz
Waxman