Posted on 01/11/2010 4:11:01 PM PST by jazusamo
The perils of steering a climate bill through the Senate in an election year have been well-documented in this space and elsewhere.
Getting a bill back through the House, which narrowly approved a sweeping measure in June, might not be a picnic either.
Take Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), who chairs the House Agriculture Committee. Back in June, Peterson blocked the bill before winning a series of concessions to the agriculture industry.
This included language that blocks EPA from weighing certain land use changes when measuring the “lifecycle” greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol. He voted for the bill.
But now Peterson says that despite the concessions, he would vote “no” if the bill or something like it comes back through the House.
"First of all, this isn't going anyplace in the Senate," Peterson told a conservative talk radio show based in North Dakota, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "But if it did and we ended up with a bill that was similar to what came out of the House and that was going to become law, I would vote no."
The story notes that a Peterson defection could sink the bill because he’s influential among rural Democrats.
Ping?
I agree but it may be he’s getting a lot of heat from his district.
Peterson’s district in far northwestern Minnesota would be devastated by cap and trade. Many home owners in the area heat with electricity or wood and winter temperatures are brutal. The skyrocketing cost of electricity and bans on wood burning that would result from cap and trade would make it unaffordable to live in this area.
Thanks, that’s got to be the answer.
He’s just trying to save his sorry rear end in November.
Colin wants to be re-elected....
Plain and simple.
If he votes the right way that’s good enough for me. Hell we can’t even count on some republicans to vote correctly on cap and trade.
If he votes the ‘right’ way on this one....It’ll be a first.
You’re right about that. I’ve written him at least 5 times in the health care debate. He does vote more conservatively than many RINO’s, so he’s not a lost cause. He is one Democrat that’s not locked stepping to the Pelosi Pig. Still, I don’t completely trust him to do the right thing.
Dont be fooled by Colin. All he is saying is that he “might” vote against it in certain cases.
A true conservative will vow to vote against it in all cases. Vote him out. That is what I plan to do to him in Nov.
Well at least it sounds like you’re willing to encourage him to do the right thing. That’s a heck of a lot more than some sad sack conservatives are willing to do.
Another good sign is him not being in lock step with San Fran Nan. I know how exasperating it is writing letters to Dem Reps and Sens but I still do it, you never know when it might help.
Yep we got a good vote out of Debbie Stabenow last time amnesty came up for a vote. That’s better than we got out of some republicans.
Good point and you’re right about some Repubs. It just fries me when 1 or 2 RINO’s vote with Dems on important bills.
We’ll take it.
There's an art and etiquette to corruption, when it's done right. One should be subtle and circumspect when soliciting (or offering) a bribe.
It's a kind of code, you know. If Peterson doesn't like the bill, he should amend it or vote against it. Instead he makes an announcement (threat) "I can't vote for this bill (make me an offer)".
Now the question in Pelosi's mind is "what kind of bill would you vote for (what do you want)"?
I am so tired of the "Rats using my own money to sc**w me.
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