House Speaker Pelosi Creates Global Warming Panel

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has created a special task force to examine global warming issues. The new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming does not have legislative authority. Did the Speaker just pull an end run on John Dingell (Energy) and possibly Charles Rangel (Taxes). Detroit Dingell would surely block the only way to reduce auto carbon dioxide emissions, mandatory efficiency, and Rangel has disagreed with the Speaker on tax policy. Enter Ed Markey, who will take no prisoners in promoting his and the Speakers energy and climate change agenda.

Speaker Pelosi commissioned the chairmen whose panels have jurisdiction over some part of the global warming issue to produce legislation addressing the problem by June. The select committee will only advise and make recommendations. According to House rules, the House of Representatives will have to pass a resolution to create the select committee because it will have staff and a budget. (Wash Post article)