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Climate Bill's Best Hope? Drill, Baby, Drill

Kerry/Graham compromise could pick up 2-4 votes

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2009 1:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – The new climate bill introduced with some fanfare by John Kerry and Lindsey Graham actually has a fighting chance of getting through the Senate, thanks to its offshore drilling provision. Despite Democrats’ supermajority, cap-and-trade legislation probably only had between 52 and 55 votes before this. But this bill, which also includes nuclear energy support, could peel Republicans off the sidelines, writes Nate Silver.

At FiveThirtyEight.com, Silver looked at each coastal state to determine the new bill’s impact. Drilling is probably what brought Graham aboard in the first place, and likely also swings Lisa Murkowski. It takes Mark Begich from a leaner to a yes, and could encourage Mary Landrieu and George LeMieux, among other less likely candidates. Overall, Silver concludes, the drilling should add two to four votes, giving the legislation a puncher’s chance.

Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and John Kerry, D-Mass., appear on Fox News Sunday in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and John Kerry, D-Mass., appear on "Fox News Sunday" in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/FOX News Sunday, Freddie Lee)
In this photo taken Friday, May 1, 2009, an offshore oil drilling platform operated by Venoco, Inc., is seen off the coast of California near Santa Barbara.
In this photo taken Friday, May 1, 2009, an offshore oil drilling platform operated by Venoco, Inc., is seen off the coast of California near Santa Barbara.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
riffran
Oct 15, 2009 12:36 PM CDT
the funny part is.....with all those who loathe the oil industry (and at times with reason).....they haven't found a replacement or implemented the tech that possibly could......So cry global warming all you want, but until there is a alternative (I wish there was ..really)...you are just pissing up a rope
jagerhans
Oct 15, 2009 1:14 AM CDT
some people thinks that 9/11 was an internal conspiracy, some else thinks that climate change is hype. what kind of moron do you feel like to be the most, left wing or right wing ?
Snowleopard
Oct 14, 2009 11:52 AM CDT
but we're also trying to get off foriegn oil.

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