By NEIL H. SIMON, Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON- Sen. John Warner's climate-change bill appeared Thursday to be headed for defeat.
At a news conference with fellow bill sponsors, the retiring Virginia Republican said, "I've done the best I can." He gave one last pitch to Senate Republicans to join his bill to drastically reduce U.S. emissions, citing the cause of national defense.
Republicans argued the regulatory bill would increase already high gas prices.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., moved Wednesday night to cut off debate on the climate change bill Friday morning after more than thirty hours of debate.
Bill sponsors admit they are unlikely to get the votes to end the debate and move to a vote on the bill. Without 60 votes, the measure will be considered dead Friday.
With presidential candidates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., both backing the bill, sponsors began looking to 2009.
"This is a road map for them," said Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "This will show them where they have allies and where they have problems."
After a week of debate and a Capitol Hill rally with supporters from industry, environmental and religious groups, bill backers advanced the national security argument in an effort to swing skeptical Republican votes.
With a retired military general and admiral standing with them, Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. argued a warming climate and rising sea levels will bring new challenges in some of the world's most volatile regions.
"National security is why we have to do this bill," Boxer said.
Republicans said the bill would have hurt the economy.
"Gas prices is the number one issue," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "You can't seriously argue that this effort to clamp down on the economy won't impact them."
At a news conference with fellow bill sponsors, the retiring Virginia Republican said, "I've done the best I can." He gave one last pitch to Senate Republicans to join his bill to drastically reduce U.S. emissions, citing the cause of national defense.
Republicans argued the regulatory bill would increase already high gas prices.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., moved Wednesday night to cut off debate on the climate change bill Friday morning after more than thirty hours of debate.
Bill sponsors admit they are unlikely to get the votes to end the debate and move to a vote on the bill. Without 60 votes, the measure will be considered dead Friday.
With presidential candidates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., both backing the bill, sponsors began looking to 2009.
"This is a road map for them," said Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "This will show them where they have allies and where they have problems."
After a week of debate and a Capitol Hill rally with supporters from industry, environmental and religious groups, bill backers advanced the national security argument in an effort to swing skeptical Republican votes.
With a retired military general and admiral standing with them, Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. argued a warming climate and rising sea levels will bring new challenges in some of the world's most volatile regions.
"National security is why we have to do this bill," Boxer said.
Republicans said the bill would have hurt the economy.
"Gas prices is the number one issue," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "You can't seriously argue that this effort to clamp down on the economy won't impact them."