House expected to pass cap-and-trade bill

Washington Post: Cap-and-Trade bill expected to pass in the House

Democratic leaders are predicting a close victory on the cap-and-trade bill. If it passes, it would cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Compromise has led to a huge (1,201 pages) and complex measure, and the resulting legislation could transform the U.S. energy industry.

The bill as written now gives some emissions credits free to rural electric cooperatives, so they can sell them and use the money to cushion consumers. And it gives the Department of Agriculture, not the Environmental Protection Agency, oversight of a key program. That would allow farmers to sell "offsets" for carbon dioxide that their crops soak up from the air or for reducing greenhouse gases from animal waste.

A few environmental groups have said the bill is now fatally flawed, but most still seem to support it, with some hoping that it might become tighter in the Senate.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Sen. Sessions says immigration reform not likely in 2009

ARKANSAS: Sen. Pryor introduces bill that will increase number of vehicles using alternate fuels

FLORIDA: Candidates for governor defend use of state planes

GEORGIA: State to meet deadline for federal funds

KENTUCKY: Mountain top coal mining debated at congressional hearing

LOUISIANA: Budget deal restores $210 million to higher education, health care

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour says SC Gov. Sanford shouldn't quit office over affair

NORTH CAROLINA: Legislature will miss deadline for spending bill

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gov. Sanford criticized as 'ineffective' governor

TENNESSEE: Center for Public Integrity gives state an "F" for weak conflict-of-interest disclosures

VIRGINIA: State does poorly on disclosure laws

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org