(Photo of Capitol Building from Flickr and photographer Tolka Rover/Eamonn O'Brien-Strain)
Washington Report 1: Three members of the House Ways and Means Committee are about to introduce a cap-and-trade bill to cut greenhouse gases 80% (below 1990 levels) by 2050 and auction 85% of the credits. Democrats Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Ed Blumenauer (Ore.) and Chris Van Hollen (Md.) said they will give the Treasury Department, not the EPA, authority over key parts of the bill. That means Ways and Means can have jurisdiction. The bill has 17 co-sponsors including Rahm Emanuel (lll.) the 4th most powerful Democrat. While W&M Chair Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) is expected to hold hearings this summer, the bill is not likely to go to the floor until a new president and Congress are in place, to give it a better chance. Energy Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.), an ally of the auto industry, has had jurisdiction over global warming legislation for the past 18 months, during which time he has issued 4 white papers and held subcommittee hearings, but made no substantial progress. This is not the first effort to bypass Dingell. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced a cap-and-trade bill earlier this month that went to Ways & Means, as well as Energy and 8 other committees. Dingell and his colleague on the Energy Committee, Rick Boucher (D-Va.) responded that while they welcome the thoughts and work of other committees, they will take the lead on any cap-and-trade legislation. (Source: E&E PM)
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