The Lieberman-Warner Conundrum  Wed, 2008-02-20 14:00Chris
Mooney Chris Mooney's picture  The Lieberman-Warner Conundrum
So instead, groups like Friends of the Earth want to see
stronger emissions cuts, on the order of 80 percent by 2050--
which is what Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are calling for--
and they want a 100 percent public auction of the initial
allowances, with the funds raised then used for a variety of
investments in clean energy.    But here the debate takes
another turn, because the environmentalists who don't want to
see anything happen this year seem to be banking on the idea
that the U.S. Congress we'll have in 2009--to say nothing of the
new president--will be more inclined towards strong climate
action. So why strive to pass a bill right now, in an election
year?         3. However, I do think the political "climate"
will be better for a climate bill in 2009, especially in light
of the way things are shaping up politically right now. We're
going to have a presidential race betwe