Sen. Boxer sees action on global warming legislation

By: ERICA WERNER - Associated Press | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 7:36 PM PDT ∞

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barbara Boxer said Wednesday she sees a bipartisan consensus developing on her Environment and Public Works Committee in favor of legislation to curb global warming emissions.

The Bush administration and many congressional Republicans have resisted such an approach. But the liberal California Democrat predicted a 2008 voter backlash against the GOP if Republicans don't act on climate change.

"There will be an electoral price to pay if they do nothing," Boxer, chair of the environment committee, said in a speech to the National Press Club.

"I think the margin in Congress is at stake, I think the presidency itself is at stake," she said. "The people of this country want action."

Boxer promised to move climate change legislation to the Senate floor as soon as she has the votes in committee to produce strong bills, adding that she did not intend to wait for a filibuster-proof 60-vote margin in the full Senate.

Boxer supports legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, which is modeled on California's landmark global warming law signed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. California's first-in-the-nation law would cut emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, an estimated 25 percent reduction. Schwarzenegger signed an executive order seeking the 80 percent reduction by 2050.

Even some fellow Democrats won't go that far, but Boxer said she could settle for less and might move bills to address emissions in specific industries rather than economy-wide. Boxer noted that a Republican on her committee, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, is introducing legislation to curb pollution from power plants including the carbon dioxide that is a main greenhouse gas.

"I have a consensus developing in my committee across party lines that we will in fact look at bills that cap carbon," Boxer said. "That's why I think it's such a breakthrough."

"We have the beginnings of the consensus, and when we have the votes for a good bill we will get that bill to the Senate floor immediately," she said.

Boxer also called for swift action from the Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of a key new Supreme Court ruling declaring that the agency has the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson is due before her committee next week, and Boxer promised to pressure him to act. The Bush administration has favored a voluntary approach rather than new regulation.

"There is no more excuse for this administration not to take action on capping greenhouse gas emissions," Boxer said.

"The No. 1. thing we're going to do is hound them on this week after week," she added, threatening unspecified consequences if she didn't see action. "Clearly, we will not sit back and do nothing."