A climate change bill (the Clean Energy Partnership Act) proposed by his fellow Iowan Tom Harkin and four other senators has the marginal support of Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, “I would support that, but you’ve got to go way beyond that, I think, to give agriculture the
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credit that it ought to have.”
Grassley says even if the ag offsets included in the Harkin measure are similar to the ag offset provisions in the House-passed climate change bill – it’s not enough. Grassley told reporters that’s why he’s exploring ‘other ideas,’ he says, “At least one I can give you right now and that would be that we get more credit for what we’re doing for minimum tillage and no tillage.”
Grassley says Republicans believe climate change legislation in general would be “very detrimental to the economy.” While fellow Republican Lindsey Graham ofSouth Carolina is working with Democrat Senator Kerry on compromise legislation, Grassley says he isn’t sure he’d support it.…
“If it would include nuclear and would include offshore drilling. I don’t know whether that’s good enough to offset the bad that’s in the bill or not. I don’t think it’s good enough for me.”
Grassley stands by his contention that the U.S. must work on an international basis – especially with China and India – for meaningful CO2 emission restrictions. If the U.S. passes cap and trade and those countries do nothing, Grassley says our nation risks losing its manufacturing to China.
The Boxer/Kerry climate change bill (the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act), absent agriculture offsets and protections, passed the Senate Finance Committee last week.
Senator Charles “Chuck” Grassley (R-IA)
AUDIO: Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), conference call with ag reporters (13 min., MP3)
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