Barry Rabe talked to the Washington Times about a proposed climate bill that would allow coastal states to keep a portion of the federal revenue generated from offshore drilling. This incentivized plan would allow states to earn up to $500 million per year in exchange for underwater leasing rights. Concerns are being raised by senators from landlocked states, environmentalists, and others worried about the diversion of funds from the federal treasury.
"The [bill's] architects clearly have designed this to maximize the likelihood that they can bring a number of swing senators and swing constituents on board," Rabe explained to the Washington Times. Rabe goes on to describe this proposal as a long shot. "There are a lot of big questions about whether you can pull the kind of coalition that would be necessary" for it to pass," he told the Washington Times.
Barry Rabe quoted in Washington Times article about proposed climate bill
May 18, 2010