Confirming speculation that began almost as soon as the cap-and-trade bill passed the House, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said today that his chamber might not vote on it until next year because health-care reform has higher priority. "Nothing terminates at the end of this year," Reid said. "We still have next year to complete things if we have to."
Reid, of Nevada, "did not rule out the possibility that Democrats could decide to move the energy piece separately from the climate-change portion" of the bill, reports Noelle Straub of Environment and Energy Publishing (subscription required). Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois "said he is hopeful climate will remain part of the packed agenda this year."
UPDATE: Straub reports Reid spokesman Jim Manley said in a later e-mail that "no decisions have been made" about scheduling of the bill. "We still intend to deal with health care, [Wall Street regulatory] reform and cap and trade this year," he said.
Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln, new chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told the National Cattlemen's Beef Association that the bill is "deeply flawed" and "I will not support similar legislation in the Senate." (Read more)
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