Reuters: Massachusetts Election Kills Cap-and-Trade

Discussed at length by both Reuters and The New York Times, the election of Republican Scott Brown to serve as Massachusetts Senator may have even worse implications on the future of greenhouse gas regulation than it does on the healthcare bill. The loss in Massachusetts, a "deep-blue" state that hasn't elected a conservative in over 30 years, is expected to shake moderate lawmakers who may have lent yes votes to cap and trade. "When there's trouble in Massachusetts, rest assured there's trouble everywhere and they know it," said Brown of his unlikely election.

Advocates of the climate bill told the New York Times that they didn't see Browns election as a loss for climate change, as Democratic defectors were likely to put the bill at least 9 votes short of the 60 it requires.

Senator John Kerry disagrees. "There's overwhelming public support and this can be a bipartisan issue," he said. "This is the single best opportunity we have for energizing the economy, creating jobs and getting cleaner air, and if you sell those arguments you've got a winning issue."

Moderate Democrats have already made attempts to distance themselves from climate legislation: Senator Lincoln of Arkansas has not made public any information regarding her role in the climate bill's markup, while Senator Dorgan of North Dakota has advocated that efforts to address global warming in the climate bill be dropped since Obama took office.

On Senator Brown's website, he pledges support of environmental protection but outright opposes cap and trade, saying "I support common-sense environment policy that will help to reduce pollution and preserve our precious open spaces... without action now, future generations will be left to clean up the mess we leave. In order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, I support reasonable and appropriate development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal and improved hydroelectric facilities. I oppose a national cap and trade program because of the higher costs that families and businesses would incur."

Environmental groups have not weighed in on Browns election, as his voting record gives very little information concerning his stance on the environment and global warming. In interviews and town halls held during his election, Brown told voters that he thinks "the world is always heating and cooling" and referenced Climategate and the need to have research that is "unbiased, by scientists, [and] with no agenda" before moving forward with a plan.