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It's no secret that the climate bill is a controversial topic in the Senate--some senators have vowed that it will pass, at least one has "guaranteed" that it will fail, many have been reluctant to declare a side, and all of them know it's crucial legislation.
But not all of them are in the thick of the battle. Certain senators, like the ever-vociferous James Inhofe, for example, are certain to vote against it. And other than making as much noise as possible, he'll likely have little influence on the bill overall.
But these 7 senators will be absolutely crucial in developing and helping to pass a climate bill--and you should know who they are.
1. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Reid tops off a similar list of senators to watch over at the great green political blog Red Blue and Green, and for good reason: much as Nancy Pelosi was largely responsible for corralling enough votes and guiding the climate bill through the House of Reps with a steely hand, so Reid will be for the Senate's counterpart. He's heavily in favor of passing a climate bill, he's shot down the prospect of splitting a bill up into separate parts to allow a weaker bill to pass, and he's already done some work with outlining a smart grid. As the Majority Leader, he'll be instrumental in persuading his party to follow his lead in voting for the climate bill.
2. Barbara Boxer
As the Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, she's arguably the most influential senator in the drafting stages of the bill. Even though she's (perhaps wisely) delayed bringing the bill out of committee, she's one of its most ardent supporters and leading voices.
3. John Kerry
Kerry has found success highlighting how climate change will play a large role in threatening national security--and why we need to stop it on those grounds. A strong supporter of climate legislation, he's working closely with Boxer on strong legislation.
4. Olympia Snowe
The "rogue" Republican who was notorious back in February for voting in support of Obama's stimulus bill--and helping it narrowly pass--she's also a vocal proponent of climate action. Her party will do anything possible to prevent her from siding with the Democrats, but her genuine support for fighting climate change may win out over partisan bickering.
5. John McCain
Here's one to watch. McCain has publicly stated many times that he's in favor of a cap and trade system--it was one of the issues that helped brand (and then over-brand) him as a 'maverick' for diverging from his party. He's been largely silent thus far in climate proceedings this go-round, but if something can be made to appeal to that 'maverick' in him, he's one of two or three potential Republican votes to watch for.
6. Jeff Bingham
New Mexico's clean-energy happy senator, Bingham is another supporter of the climate cause. An adept politician, he's been known to effectively barter with the opposition to make progress--his amiable touch will prove indispensable when things heat up with climate change negotiations.
7. The Cap-less Four
Okay, so this is really four senators, not one, but all four (Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, both of North Dakota) wrote a letter calling for cap and trade to be removed from the climate bill. These swing-vote Midwestern senators are concerned that cap and trade would adversely affect the agriculture industry, and present a sticky spot for the Democrats. And though they can likely be corralled into supporting the bill as ag-state Dems were in the House, they're going to be worth watching to see what sort of concessions are made to win their approval.
More on the Climate Bill:
Economic Benefits of Climate Bill Outweigh Costs 9 to 1, Study Finds
How to Follow the Climate Bill Every Step of the Way
