The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Cap and Trade a Possible Casualty of Health Care Reform

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Cap and Trade a Possible Casualty of Health Care Reform

By W. James Antle, III on 12.28.09 @ 4:42PM

The Politico is reporting that some moderate Senate Democrats who followed their party off the cliff on health care have become squeamish about taking risks the second time around with cap and trade.

"I am communicating that in every way I know how," said Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), one of at least a half-dozen Democrats who've told the White House or their own leaders that it's time to jettison the centerpiece of their party's plan to curb global warming...

"We need to deal with the phenomena of global warming, but I think it's very difficult in the kind of economic circumstances we have right now," said Indiana Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, who called passage of any economywide cap and trade "unlikely..."

"I'd just as soon see that set aside until we work through the economy," said Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.). "What we don't want to do is have anything get in the way of working to resolve the problems with the economy."

We'll see how many hold firm after the leadership offers them some pork and the president whispers some sweet nothings in their ears.

View all comments (7) | Leave a comment

Pete| 12.28.09 @ 5:21PM

The real reason is that the Healthcare industry is large enough for them all to get a piece of the pie already, so why chance another unpopular debacle?

Dell| 12.28.09 @ 8:33PM

Now, here's the truth:

It certainly isn't politically prudent to spend another trillion dollars this close to an election. The voters might not like it. So, we're going to put this spending spree in neutral for a few weeks...or until the polls favor us once again, and then we'll spend that money.

It really doesn't have a thing to do with the deficit, the economy or anything - other than it might ruin their chances for reelection. Period.

A. James van Hine| 12.29.09 @ 8:52AM

Landrieu & Nelson are just laying the ground work for a bigger payoff. Filthy, lying progressives.

JP| 12.29.09 @ 8:53AM

I wouldn't believe a word thier saying. As a matter of fact, Senator Lindsay Gramm is currently co-authoring a new Cap and Trade Bill with Senator Kerry as we speak. I'd expect them to dump thier new version on the Senate in April or May. And we all know that the Blue Dogs are for sale.

Tim| 12.29.09 @ 9:59AM

They're not balking, they're signaling that they must be bought out-again.

Al Adab| 12.29.09 @ 10:14AM

Maybe we can get them refocused on the BCS matter again. Congress wants to get involved in that situation. We should encourage them. While they are busy debating the College National Champion, they will leave things like the economy and medical rationing alone. All the better for us.
Hook 'em Horns.