Senate dems abandon energy reform bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) shocked advocates of clean energy and climate reform yesterday when he announced that the Senate would not take up legislation intended to reduce carbon emissions. Reid faulted Senate Republicans for blocking attempts at reform, saying that there is just no way to get the 60 votes necessary to pass the bill through the Senate. Conceding to Right, Democratic lawmakers have, for the time being, put off the legislation indefinitely ? effectively shelving one of the president’s marquee issues.

Daniel Stone, covers environmental policy issues for Newsweek. He says that “cap and trade” is what ultimately killed the bill, with Senators arguing that putting a price on carbon would lead to a loss of jobs.