Washington – The Senate on Wednesday rejected a measure calling for mandatory limits on emissions linked to global warming, siding with the Bush administration’s position that the restrictions would cost jobs, drive industry overseas and run up consumer energy bills.
Voting 60-38, lawmakers rejected an amendment to a major energy bill that would have forced reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases to 2000 levels by 2010 and created an emissions-trading program.
Eleven Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the measure, and six Republicans voted with the Democrats to support it.
Opponents said the legislation would be too costly for businesses and would force manufacturers to move operations and jobs overseas.
Some also disputed the conclusions of most scientists who have linked greenhouse-gas emissions with global warming.
“My first priority is protecting our families and workers,” said Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo. “(The amendment) will hurt our families, hurt our nation’s energy security, drive jobs overseas.”
Lawmakers then passed by voice vote a nonbinding resolution calling for Congress to approve mandatory limits on greenhouse-gas emissions in a way that does not “significantly harm the … economy.”
The resolution also acknowledges the “growing scientific consensus that human activity is a substantial cause of greenhouse-gas accumulation in the atmosphere.” Some environmentalists said the resolution – while lacking any teeth – marked a turning point in the debate and indicated a willingness to take action.
The defeated amendment was sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., who said urgent action is needed. They disputed forecasts that the legislation would damage the economy.
