The Waxman-Markey Crisishttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2B0X5wX2ZukvihVxYcKn6Eua9UFA%2BuOGv Source: Mother Jones, June 22, 2009
As the Waxman-Markey Climate Billhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=iIRY1XcDd9OecSQPx41CJdi3kYOkxyt8nears a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, environmental groups are "teetering at the edge of existential crisis," writes Josh Harkinson. "Almost all environmental groups agree that Waxman-Markey is far from ideal," but some are supporting it, while others "believe the bill is so deeply flawed it might actually make matters worse." Critics say the bill "lines the pockets of polluters with little to show for it. The most it would cut carbon emissions by 2020 is 17 percent below 1990 levels, nowhere near the 25 to 40 percent reduction sought by scientists and international climate negotiators." Other concernshttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HYFQcGvCbtv2aq8a1vaQO%2Fe7N9Lo4yt%2Fare that the bill may *decrease* clean energy production, as it would overrule higher renewable mandates in states like California; it would strip the Environmental Protection Agencyhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=x6b%2BkkoPx%2BetcuQVlIj1aOa9UFA%2BuOGvof its ability to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from coal plantshttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=L64ixFEWEMKyt8zwci8TJOa9UFA%2BuOGv; and it would auction just 15 percent of emissions permits, giving a whopping 50 percent "to the fossil fuel industry for free." Some environmentalists blame the United States Climate Action Partnershiphttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=EdOkpB4klxdIi7PSbFPUfOa9UFA%2BuOGv, "a coalition of industry and moderate environmental groups," for sticking with a "quietly hammered out" agreement developed during the Bush administrationhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CfBgJ8qqWZhKf%2FWW%2BjX7xua9UFA%2BuOGv. Others criticize President Obamahttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5%2FsgQo%2FcwysNTq%2FoQ8AI7ea9UFA%2BuOGv, "who spoke out in favor of auctioning off pollution permits during his campaign ... but is now thought likely to sign whatever bill crosses his desk." Meanwhile, the industry front grouphttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HDRLsFykvu4jKrqU3Eyt6Oa9UFA%2BuOGv Cooler Heads Coalitionhttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ZgWlqhJ4htdkc4hM5NERlua9UFA%2BuOGvis planning efforts to oppose the bill, with "scientific skepticshttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Iw5BkoXVHGBi71VFSnwOXea9UFA%2BuOGvand legislative critics," reports Greenwirehttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=JXFikPOGNEZt6u%2BNhNkefea9UFA%2BuOGv.