Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A trio of senators — each with differing politics — is launching a rescue effort for troubled climate legislation.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., together with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., announced Wednesday that they would work to patch together a bill that could pass the Senate.

A bill introduced by Kerry and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., that would impose mandatory limits on heat-trapping gases for the first time is stalled in committee because of a Republican boycott.

The senators said that they were not usurping that effort, but would take the best pieces from the bill and develop legislation that has majority support. Among the additions could be more incentives for nuclear power and provisions for offshore drilling.