Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) suggested yesterday that a climate bill might have to wait until next year, thwarting the administration’s goal of having legislation before an international climate conference this December. But it’s not a setback, says White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
“We have no doubt that that will take some time,” Gibbs said at today’s press briefing. “I think we can continue to make progress.”
The administration was hoping to have legislation before the Copenhagen conference at the end of the year. But comments from Reid and others suggest that might not happen.
“So, you know, we are going to have a busy, busy time the rest of this year,” Reid said. “And, of course, nothing terminates at the end of this year. We still have next year to complete things if we have to.”
“I think it’s increasingly difficult to have a climate change bill done before the end of the year,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) are drafting the Senate bill.
Gibbs said today he thinks they can still make good progress before December.
