Deal nearing on Senate climate bill

The Senate is close to wrapping up talks ahead of introducing a compromise climate change bill, said a top Democratic lawmaker who discussed ideas with industry groups on Wednesday.

"We're planning to button up our efforts somewhere I hope next week," Senator John Kerry told reporters after meeting with a coalition that represents automakers, forestry and paper companies, Big Oil, steel, mining, electricity and others.

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Kerry is working with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and independent Senator Joseph Lieberman on a bill to require U.S. industry to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases associated with global warming.

Indicating there was still work to be done, Kerry said, "We're trying to build support as we develop (bill) language."

Bruce Josten, an executive vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, left Wednesday's meeting with the three senators and told reporters: "They're being very constructive; they're trying to figure out how to make this work for the American economy."

The measure will not take the exact approach of legislation approved by the House of Representatives in June, and by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in November. This would set an economy-wide "cap and trade" direction to reducing carbon pollution.

Kerry said that while "a lot of language is there" to craft legislation, "we don't have a full outline" yet of a bill.

Article continues: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62G3YG20100318