Cord Byrd: “I am anxious to see action on this issue, but I keep asking myself, are we doing the right thing for the wrong reasons…”

“I am anxious to see action on this issue, but I keep asking myself, are we doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, or the wrong thing for the right reasons? Either way, I cannot support proceeding at this time. The Senate is not yet ready to consider this vastly important and highly complex legislation. It's ramifications are too unknown. In December 2007, after several hearings and with written comments, the Environment and Public Works Committee reported S. 2191, America's Climate Security Act. It includes a hefty 334 pages of legislative text. Since then, a new bill has been drafted and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar--S. 3036, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act--which is what the Senate will consider if the motion to proceed is adopted. And yet another bill--a third bill--is expected to be offered as a substitute amendment by the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. That bill includes 491 pages of legislative text. That is three bills, in 6 months, totaling 1,167 pages of legislative text. This new bill was circulated only days ago before the Memorial Day recess, and with an additional 157 pages that was not considered by the Environment and Public Works Committee--no hearings, no economic analysis.”