Texas Delegation provides key swing votes on ACESA Climate Bill

by: Citizen Andy

Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 07:24 PM CDT

The US House of Representatives passed HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, sometimes referred to as the Waxman-Markey Bill, or ACES, by a vote of 219-212.  A majority in the House of Representatives in 218 votes.

While I wish I could say this vote went along party lines, it did not.   8 Republicans (none from Texas) voted for the bill, while an amazing 44 Democrats voted against President Obama, the environment, and green jobs (including three from Texas). 

These Dems should be whipped and whipped hard.  The consensus in the enviro community was that this bill was watered down and wouldn't meet the promise of a truly great energy and climate bill. But it would be the best we could get.  The closeness of the vote shows that every compromise literally had to be made to get any climate bill passed.

As for our Texas delegation, we have good news and bad news. (more after bump)

Here's how it broke down (and I'm listing only D's as I mentioned, all of the R's voted against-- you can see the full vote here)

 Now i know Edwards has a conservative, rural district.  But Ortiz and Rodriguez?  If memory serves, Rodriguez lost a primary to Henry Cuellar after redistricting, and lost because Cuellar ran to the right of him.  Now, then how in the world is Cuellar voting yes and Rodriguez no? Rodriguez's district is also home to the most renewable energy potential of any part of not only Texas but possibly the country.  And he'll vote no on renewable energy? Too bad those hundreds of wind turbines that produce clean energy and local jobs out in Fort Stockton can't vote. 

And Ortiz?  I guess the bill was good enough for the refiners in Houston (as evidenced by Gene Green's vote) but not the refiners in Corpus Christi? #EPIC FAIL#

The real story here, though, is Lloyd Doggett, and here is one more reason he is kind of my hero.  This morning he rose on the House floor and stated how the bill was too weak (it is), there isn't enough teeth in the consumer protection (there's not), and how the renewable energy provisions aren't strong enough to create the real, transformative change we need (they're not). See his remarks here.

Then, about 4pm Austin time, he rose again to the floor to make an about face.  He could no longer stand listening to the flat-earth crowd (probably the braying of fellow Texan Joe Barton, who ran the opposition to the bill), and would support the bill in the hopes that it would be strengthened as it proceeds in the Senate and the rest of thye legislative process.  See those remarks here.

This is why Doggett is a real mensch.  He opposed the bill for all the right reasons, but when the choice was made of whether to make the perfect the enemy of the good, he made the right choice, and was either vote 218 or 219 to push it over the top.

 I know many BOR readers are represented by Congressman Doggett.  I think he'd appreciate hearing from all of us that he was right when he opposed the bill and right for voting for final passage.  Also, if anyone knows Keith Olberman's number, see if we can nominate him for "Best Person in the World"

 ~~~~Citizen Andy