EXCLUSIVE: Climate bill could trigger lawsuit landslide

[thundley4]

Self-proclaimed victims of global warming or those who "expect to suffer" from it - from beachfront property owners to asthmatics - for the first time would be able to sue the federal government or private businesses over greenhouse gas emissions under a little-noticed provision slipped into the House climate bill.

Environmentalists say the measure was narrowly crafted to give citizens the unusual standing to sue the U.S. government as a way to force action on curbing emissions. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sees a new cottage industry for lawyers.

"You could be spawning lawsuits at almost any place [climate-change modeling] computers place at harm's risk," said Bill Kovacs, energy lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The bill was written by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman, California Democrat, and Rep. Edward J. Markey, Massachusetts Democrat. Both lawmakers declined repeated requests for comment.

The Waxman-Markey blueprint, including the lawsuit provision, has just been released, and the Senate is drafting its own energy bill. But Mr. Waxman has set an accelerated schedule for passing the bill through his committee by Memorial Day and President Obama lists an energy overhaul bill as one of his top priorities.

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Why does Henry Waxman hate the United States?  This law will bring all the loons out , and clog the courts for years if it passes. If it passes, they'll use it as an excuse as to why cap and trade needs to be passed just to help prevent lawsuits against the government.

[Lord Undies]

I don't think the bill in its current overreaching form will go anywhere this year or the next.  It is considered political poison in many areas.  There are a lot of states' rights issues involved too.  The coal powered states aren't pleased with this fiasco-in-waiting - I don't care how "blue" they are.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Never before has someone been allowed to sue over policy.

We're done.

Would the last one out please turn out the lights.

[thundley4]

I don't think the bill in its current overreaching form will go anywhere this year or the next.  It is considered political poison in many areas.  There are a lot of states' rights issues involved too.  The coal powered states aren't pleased with this fiasco-in-waiting - I don't care how "blue" they are.

Currently , I don't think the "cap and trade" would go anywhere either. However if this law passes then the dems can use the possibility of lawsuits to justify the "cap and trade".  I know it's circular reasoning, but I wouldn't put it past the dems.

[RightCoast]

Never before has someone been allowed to sue over policy.

We're done.

Would the last one out please turn out the lights.

barack and the dims are ensuring that there will be no lights left to turn off.

[Ptarmigan]

Global Warming my ass! Earth's climate always changes and you can't do anything about it. If we were living in Pangaea, the climate would be a LOT DIFFERENT from what we are familiar with. We would be running the A/C in the middle of winter.