From N.C. Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, co-chair of the Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change:
This week, Sens. John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman were prepared to introduce comprehensive clean energy legislation that would mark a vital step forward in putting America back in control of its energy future. Yet due to political uncertainty over which legislative item should be of highest priority, it appears Senate leaders and one of the bill's co-sponsors, Sen. Graham, might miss a golden opportunity to move forward this year on cutting carbon pollution, creating jobs and strengthening our national security.
Americans have waited for too long for Washington to act, and we overwhelmingly support clean energy policies. We didn't send politicians to Washington to give lip service to passing comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation, nor did we elect them to dither on urgent threats to our national security. Sens. Kerry, Graham and Lieberman should finish their bipartisan effort and Majority Leader Harry Reid and others need to get this bill finished this year.
By moving to a clean energy economy, we can create jobs and strengthen our economy. According to the most recent analysis, clean energy and climate legislation can create up to 2 million jobs - good jobs "Made in America" across all sectors, including clean energy technology, trucking and manufacturing. Clean energy and climate legislation will also be good for American businesses and their employees. It will help us to stop losing jobs overseas and will create incentives in the private sector to invest in clean energy technology.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/30/1406485/washington-must-quit-dithering.html