Dems Blast Bush Global Warming Plan As 'too Little Too Late'

By Martin Kady II

(The Politico)  President Bush has laid out a new global warming policy that seeks to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, but the lack of a mandated cap on carbon emissions has led Democrats to blast the proposal as falling well short.

The reaction from Democrats _ in advance of the Bush announcement on global warming this afternoon _ comes as no surprise. Democrats have used climate change as a bludgeon to bash Republicans, yet have been unsuccessful in pushing legislation with mandatory caps on carbon emissions.

"After seven years of denying the seriousness of the climate crisis and delaying tough action to save the planet, President Bush finally will discuss the subject," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said. "With just nine months left in his term, the White House has already made clear that the President’s announcement today will not reverse his record on global warming before he leaves office."

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) said the plan was "too little, too late."

The Bush administration clearly believes unrealistic mandates and carbon taxes will harm the economy, and he warns Congress against taking such actions.

"We believe we need to protect our environment. We believe we need to strengthen our energy security," Bush says, according to advance excerpts of his speech. "We believe we need to grow our economy. And we believe the only way to achieve these goals is through continued advances in technology."

The push to reduce emissions will focus on incentives for power plants to reduce their pollution. Bush also plans to push for increases in use of nuclear power.

But top Democrats charged with writing global warming legislation say waiting until 2025 means allowing 17 more years of damaging growth of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The President’s plan to have America stand by while greenhouse gases reach dangerous levels and threaten America and the world is worse than doing nothing – it is the height of irresponsibility," said Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee.