Climate Legislation and The Redskins
Its fall in Washington, DC and there are two things most have agreed upon this season: the Redskins football squad looks bad as do any hopes of the Senate passing climate legislation prior to UN negotiations in Copenhagen. While the Redskins offense continues to lack a passing game, a new playbook focused on corporate leadership and bipartisanship may be turning things around in the Senate. Yet pessimism remains as some observers believe one key political gap is a quarterback in the White House who will engage and make it a legislative priority.
First we have seen a string of corporate defections from the US Chamber of Commerce over their negative stance on mandatory GHG reductions. Notable departures from the Chamber have included utilities PG & E, PNM, Exelon and computer giant Apple, Inc. all of whom favor cap-and-trade legislation.
Next came a wave of corporate advocacy through the “We Can Lead” coalition. On October 6th and 7th hundreds of business leaders including technology innovators, investors, manufacturers and energy providers descended upon the halls of Congress demanding action. Participants included Duke Energy, Starbucks, Applied Materials and Nike.
It is no coincidence that in the wake of these efforts, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) announced a new bipartisan effort to pass climate legislation ideally before Copenhagen. Together they authored an op-ed in the New York Times warning that business needs a market-based system that will create millions of jobs in the US rather than EPA command and control style regulation. In short, it makes business sense for the Senate to act now.
Nobody expects the Redskins to turn it around because owner Dan Snyder is in charge, the offensive line is weak and fans have lost faith. Yet, if there is any hope for the US Government to throw the hail mary pass on climate change legislation before Copenhagen, it definitely won't happen unless President Obama comes off the bench and leads us to victory.
http://www.climatechangeinsights.com/admin/trackback/160646
