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GOP boycott could stall global warming bill
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
10/30/09 9:10 AM EDT
A group of Senate Republicans will "likely" boycott committee work on the chamber's global warming bill, which would block the legislation from clearing the panel.
The GOP members of the Environment and Public Works Committee want to see a full economic analysis of the legislation's impact before officially drafting the bill in a markup.
Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., had hoped to hole a vote next week on the bill, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020.
"It is imperative the we know how much this bill will cost and how many jobs will be lost before Senators are asked to vote," said Matt Dempsey, spokesman for committee ranking member James Inhofe, R-Okla., a global warming doubter. "If they do move forward next week, Republicans will likely seek to delay consideration."
Boxer would be essentially stuck if no Republicans show up because at least two members of the minority party are needed for a quorum.
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