Sins Of Emission

The public has grown skeptical of the global warming threat. Polls show a growing number of Americans think the risks are inflated and consider many other issues to be in greater need of attention. Pew Research found that the public ranks global warming dead last out of 20 concerns facing the country. Congressional Democrats, who want to pass a climate change bill this year that will limit carbon dioxide emissions, are running into resistance in the Senate — where they'll soon have a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority with the defection of Arlen Specter from the Republican Party to the Democrats. Passing an economy-crippling climate bill, be it based on a cap-and-trade scheme or a carbon tax, will be an easier task in the House. In addition to the 256 Democrats in that chamber, enough of the 178 GOP members want to appease trendy nonthinkers and radical environmental groups to pass the legislation with a large margin. Sweeteners thrown to undecideds by Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy Committee that's responsible for writing the bill, almost guarantee passage. The Senate, though, is likely to be less accommodating...IBD