Clean Energy & Security Act is 19 votes short in Senate. Where would you get them?

[Statistical]

Poll question: Clean Energy & Security Act is 19 votes short in Senate. Where would you get them?

The "American clean energy security act of 2009" has already passed the house.

Currently there are:
41 Senators for the bill
29 Senators who oppose the bil

The leaves 30 Senators "up for grabs".

The bill while not perfect does do a lot of good IMHO. Briefly it:

• Requires electric utilities to meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020.
  
• Provides $200 billion in subsidies for clean energy technology & research over next 15 years.
  
• Sets limits on GHG emissions (starting with 6 cut in 2012 going to 20 cut by 2020) via cap & trade system.
  
• Set compliance violation penalties in amount of $25/MWh.
  
• Provides funding, research, and mandates for modernized electrical grid, electrical vehicles, building efficiencies, and more efficient home appliances.
  

More info on bill here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Clean_Energy_and_Security_Act

So IMHO not perfect but it is good bill. The bad news is it 19 votes short.

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/03/09/09climatewire-for-senators-on-the-fence-on-climate-everyth-37932.html

According to NYT the undecided fall into 5 camps (with some Senators supporting multiple camps).

So where will you get the 19 votes needed?

Read the NYT article above for more detailed descriptions of the "camps".

Obviously none of the camps have 19 votes needed except Coal but just pick the camp you would negotiate with first (or the most). Example (not my pick :) ) Expanding Gas & Oil would net you up to 13 votes so then you would just need to pull in 6 more Senators to get to 60. If you support multiple "camps" then just pick the one you support the most.

Some people love to critize Congress when they negotiate or water down a bill but the reality is often the votes are simply not there for a "pure" bill. Where would you make the hard call?

[HopeHoops]

1. Hookers who pay Senators to provide them with services.

Hey, it works for big business!

[Statistical]

2. Sometimes I think real hookers would be the cheaper option. n/t

[HopeHoops]

4. Make them underage and Neil Bush will call you!

[Motown_Johnny]

3. I am fairly certain it will be the coal industry who buys this bill but I can't vote for them

[Statistical]

5. Nobody wants to make the hard decisions. Huh?

[Statistical]

6. 100 views only 6 votes. No wonder why any energy legislation is doomed.

Nobody cares. Nobody wants to accept the reality of how difficult compromise is.

Politicians know they can simply kick it down the road, or call coal "clean" with no political repercussions.

[Nihil]

7. Sad but true.

> Politicians know they can simply kick it down the road,
> or call coal "clean" with no political repercussions.

:-(

Nice idea to post it anyway ... just a shame that DUers don't
give any more of a shit about it either ...
:shrug: