Dems: Cap and trade won't stop oil leak

Barack Obama's scheme to use the Gulf of Mexico spill to passing an expensive cap and trade caper into law isn't impressing Republican--or Democras--as Businessweek reports:

The BP Plc oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is unlikely to create enough momentum to pass a comprehensive climate bill sought by President Barack Obama, say leading Senate Democrats.

Many Democrats don't want to vote in this election year on whether to cap the greenhouse-gas emissions linked to climate change, saying they prefer to work in the coming months on legislation directly responding to the spill.

"The climate bill isn't going to stop the oil leak," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat. "The first thing you have to do is stop the oil leak."

Obama, in a speech to the nation last night, praised a climate plan passed by the House last year and said the U.S. “can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy.” Earlier this month, he said the only way to develop clean energy is by “finally putting a price on carbon pollution."

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