Article

2009-10-18 Home Front: Politix

Murkowski signals interest in compromise on cap-and-trade

The ranking Republican on the Senate's energy committee on Saturday signaled she could vote for a revised version of Democrats' forthcoming cap-and-trade bill.

In an interview to air Sunday on C-SPAN, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) explained she would "keep her mind open" during debate over the hotly contested carbon-reduction proposal, a version of which has already passed the House. The Alaska Republican also suggested she could vote for the final bill if it expands domestic oil drilling and better funds nuclear power.

"When you see changes to the land coming about ... what is causing the loss of the sea ice that adds to the erosion issues, yes, in Alaska we are seeing change," Murkowski told C-SPAN. "That's why I have been one of those Republicans who has stepped out front a little bit more on the issue of climate change."

Murkowski's stated interest in working with Democrats on cap-and-trade legislation is good news to the majority party, which failed to court more than a handful of House Republicans to vote for their carbon-reduction measure earlier this year. Ultimately, scoring a key Senate Republican's early commitment to a compromise could help Democratic leaders shore up more GOP support as their bill progresses through Congress.

But Murkowski is not the only prominent Republican recently to signal a willingness to negotiate the details of cap-and-trade with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the Senate bill's chief sponsor.

Already, the majority party has scored preliminary support of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who stressed last week in an op-ed he co-authored with Kerry that the two lawmakers "have found both a framework for climate legislation to pass Congress and the blueprint for a clean-energy future that will revitalize our economy, protect current jobs and create new ones, safeguard our national security and reduce pollution."

Posted by Fred 2009-10-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 If Cap 'n' Trade really was about stopping global warming shouldn't the Alaska delegation be against the legislation? Couldn't Alaska use a little warming up?

Posted by Glenmore 2009-10-18 00:49|| 2009-10-18 00:49|| Front Page Top

#2 Make a deal with the dems that they will keep their end of the bargain? Shame on you Senator Murkowski. Looking for a wee bone for Alaska. Begging the traitor dems. We are screwed. The trunks are bloody invertebrates.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2009-10-18 01:25|| 2009-10-18 01:25|| Front Page Top

#3 Murkowski is a train wreck, as was her father, Ted Stevens and most Alaska R's.

Posted by Iblis 2009-10-18 14:34|| 2009-10-18 14:34|| Front Page Top

10:01 Old Patriot
10:00 NN2N1
09:58 EMS Artifact
09:55 EMS Artifact
09:48 Besoeker
09:43 magpie
09:35 Frank G
09:32 Mercutio
09:24 SteveS
09:09 Elmomoter Mussolini9149
09:03 Skidmark
08:53 Gleng Whaick2262
08:37 ed in texas
08:30 Besoeker
08:12 Procopius2k
08:10 Procopius2k
07:54 Grom the Affective
06:54 Richard Aubrey
06:49 MikeKozlowski
06:48 MikeKozlowski
06:46 Richard Aubrey
06:46 MikeKozlowski
06:44 Richard Aubrey
06:34 NN2N1