Climate Change Bills Inch Forward

Although agricultural opposition to the climate change measures in the House and Senate is dropping off now that the USDA says the increased costs to farmers resulting from the legislation would amount to only about 0.3%, businesses trading overseas still oppose the House version's requirement for mandatory imposition of tariffs on goods from countries not participating in international climate agreements, and Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer still wants stronger consumer protections for residential ratepayers in the Senate measure.