WASHINGTON - Sen. Barbara Boxer left little doubt she was having a particularly good time Wednesday. Wearing sunglasses, California's junior Democratic senator made her way to a stage on the east lawn of the Capitol, then stood in front of a huge U.S. flag and waved to a throng of supporters as U2's "It's a Beautiful Day" roared through the loudspeakers.
"What a great day!" enthused the senator. "This is like giving birth again!"
Boxer was celebrating her alliance with Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry to introduce a long-awaited bill that, if approved, could land her in the history books.
The legislation - the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act - would force the United States to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, setting more ambitious targets than a bill that passed the House over summer. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 80 percent from 2005 levels.
Sponsoring a bill is the easy part. The hard part is next, as Boxer tries to fend off many Republicans and some Democrats who oppose the legislation, saying it would be too costly, particularly in tough times.
Opponents are ready for battle, saying Boxer and Kerry are out to impose a new national tax on energy.
"The national energy tax was a terrible idea when it passed the House, and it is an even worse idea now," said House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.
"Middle-class families and small businesses struggling to make ends meet shouldn't be punished with costly legislation that will increase electricity bills, raise gasoline prices and ship more American jobs overseas," Boehner added.
Environmentalists counter that it's time to hold polluters responsible and to invest in clean-energy projects in the United States.
"For years, we've relinquished control of our energy sector to other countries and to big corporate interests," said Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen.
While some critics say the bill doesn't go far enough, Kerry said it initially will affect 7,500 facilities that account for nearly 75 percent of U.S. carbon pollution.
"These are big polluters," he said, adding that more than 98 percent of American businesses and all farmers will be exempt.
After laboring over global warming and environmental issues for years, Boxer is better positioned now to leave her mark on a climate bill. She has headed the Senate's environmental committee since 2007, but this is the first year she has a Democratic ally in the White House.
The bill would establish incentives to stop polluting. Companies taking more time to cut carbon pollution could pay to keep polluting; those meeting goals would be rewarded.
Call Rob Hotakainen, McClatchy Washington Bureau, (202) 383-0009.
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