Meanwhile, Back in the Senate

While Katrina and John Roberts absorb the nation's (or at least the media's) attention, it's easy to miss the fact that other things are continuing to happen in the political realm. Today in the Senate, a call that would have forced the EPA to strengthen Bush Administration-backed rules governing mercury emissions from power plants failed in a close vote.

Proponents of the resolution to push for the tougher rule "argued that it would require all plants to upgrade with the best available pollution-control technologies and would achieve a greater reduction of emissions, up to 90 percent, in fewer years, creating substantial health benefits for people most vulnerable to mercury poisoning, including pregnant women and children." The current plan is backed by industry groups and the power plants.

The New York Times says today's vote to keep the current rule was "largely along party lines." The roll call reveals that the unsuccessful 47-51 tally was in fact a pretty interesting mix. Six Democrats (Baucus, Byrd, Conrad, Dorgan, Nelson of NE, and Pryor) joined 45 Republicans in opposing the proposed change. That's mentioned in the Times article. What goes unmentioned are the nine Republicans who bucked the Administration and supported the tougher standards. They are Alexander, Chafee, Coleman, Collins, Gregg, McCain, Smith, Snowe, and Sununu, and I'll give them some credit if nobody else does. Senators Hatch and Rockefeller didn't vote.

It's true, this measure didn't get much attention because even if it'd passed the Senate it didn't stand a chance in the House (and the Administration was threatening to veto it). So one could make the cynical argument that those Republicans felt "safe" voting this way knowing it "wouldn't matter." And maybe that's true for some of them. But I'm still glad they took the stand.