Democrats Back Off Cap and Trade Bill; Postpone Senate Action Until September

Opponents of President Obama's "Cap and Trade" Legislation have won a temporary victory today as the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee backed off on pushing the bill forward this summer. In fact, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer said it would not be taken up by the Senate until September. This about face by Boxer, who had set a deadline of early August to complete work on the bill, is undoubtedly a result of strong opposition from the American people, the announcement by Democrat Robert Byrd that he will oppose the bill, and falling poll numbers for President Obama:

President Barack Obama's push for quick action by Congress on climate change legislation suffered a setback on Thursday when the U.S. Senate committee leading the drive delayed work on the bill until September.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer said her self-imposed deadline of early August for finishing writing a bill to combat global warming has been put off until after Congress returns from a recess that ends in early September.

"We'll do it as soon as we get back" from that break, Boxer told reporters. Asked if this delay jeopardizes chances the Senate will pass a bill this year, Boxer said, "Not a bit ... we'll be in (session) until Christmas, so I'm not worried about it."

But Boxer did not guarantee Congress will be able to finish a bill and deliver it to Obama by December, when he plans to attend an international summit on climate change in Copenhagen.

"I want to take this as far as we can take it (before Copenhagen). The more we do the better," Boxer said. . . . . MORE