A guide to the new Senate
What incoming Republican chairs might do for the West.
When Republicans take over the U.S. Senate next year, Democrats will be booted from their positions as committee chairs and replaced by ranking Republicans. The shift is a big deal: With roughly 3,000 bills referred to committees each session, chairs wield a lot of power in deciding which will live, which will die and which will resurface so marked up that they're virtually unrecognizable. Here’s who’s predicted to be calling the shots in 2015, and what their ascension might mean for the West.
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Nov 14, 2014 03:01 PM
What incoming Republican chairs might do to the West, you mean. Actually, not much probably. The Senate was worthless under the Democrats, and it'll be worthless under the Republicans, as it only takes 40 Seats to control the Senate.
Nov 17, 2014 09:34 AM
The new Senate makeup highlights the importance of a nonpartisan climate change solution. Although many Republican politicians vociferously deny climate change, a 2013 survey under the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication suggest that most Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents believe that climate change is occurring and that America should take action to address it. A 2014 ABC/Washington Post poll found that 70 percent of all Americans view climate change as a serious problem and want government to tackle it.
Palatable nonpartisan legislation is needed to bridge the gap. I recently came upon a proposal from the grassroots group Citizens’ Climate Lobby: A steadily rising revenue-neutral carbon fee that returns all revenue to taxpayers, thus encouraging low-carbon choices while not growing government. This market-based approach would slash carbon emissions while boosting the U.S. clean-energy economy. In fact a study from a respected nonpartisan modeling group suggests it would add net jobs to the U.S. economy – that is something all parties should be able to get behind.
We can’t wait for the political pendulum to swing again. Addressing climate change is an urgent priority. So let’s promote policies that get elected officials from both parties to support what most Americans already support – taking action on climate change.
Palatable nonpartisan legislation is needed to bridge the gap. I recently came upon a proposal from the grassroots group Citizens’ Climate Lobby: A steadily rising revenue-neutral carbon fee that returns all revenue to taxpayers, thus encouraging low-carbon choices while not growing government. This market-based approach would slash carbon emissions while boosting the U.S. clean-energy economy. In fact a study from a respected nonpartisan modeling group suggests it would add net jobs to the U.S. economy – that is something all parties should be able to get behind.
We can’t wait for the political pendulum to swing again. Addressing climate change is an urgent priority. So let’s promote policies that get elected officials from both parties to support what most Americans already support – taking action on climate change.
Nov 17, 2014 10:10 AM
Jarret - I wish I shared your optimism. Sadly, nothing is going to be done for the forseeable future. The Democrats will probably take the Senate back in 2016, but the House is gerrymandered for the next generation. Any action on climate will have to take place in the Statehouses, with California leading the way.