Senate ends debate early on climate change legislation: the Senate is unlikely to take up the climate change issue for the remaining of the session. The current legislative language will likely serve as a starting point for next year's debate.

What was supposed to be a historic Senate debate on a comprehensive climate change proposal that would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions ended after just three days due to partisan bickering and procedural maneuvers that stalled movement of the legislation.

Opponents of the legislation stalled action by calling for a full reading of the nearly 500-page bill, a process that took nine hours. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called for a cloture vote to end debate, but the vote failed 48-36. Debate ended without any discussion or votes on many of the expected amendments.

The Senate is unlikely to take up the climate change issue for the remainder of the session. The current legislative language will likely serve as a starting point for next year's debate.

The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 3036) included funding for NLC legislative priorities, including $136 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, $171 billion to support mass transit and tax relief for the energy needs of low-income consumers.

While the proposal is dead in the Senate, the issue may see action in the House. Several members of the House have introduced climate change legislation, though it is unclear which of the bills will serve as the primary legislative vehicle.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, has introduced the Investing in Climate Action and Protection Act (H.R. 6186) that would cut carbon emissions by 85 percent by the year 2050.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has introduced the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590) that would charge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with developing a program to cap carbon emissions, with an overall reduction of 80 percent by 2050.

Hearings on both bills are expected in the House Energy and Commerce Committee by the end of the month. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chair of the committee, is also expected to introduce a climate change bill later this summer.