Climate Change Bill Stalls Over Agriculture Concerns

A key Democrat said Friday that he doesn't see any way party leaders could bring a controversial, energy and climate change bill to the floor for debate next week because of concerns coming from the agriculture industry.

"I don't see how we do that," said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson D-Minn.

Peterson's comments came after a negotiating session "blew up" Thursday night as he and other key players tried to forge a deal.

"I'm tired of going around in circles," an exasperated Peterson said. "I'm trying to translate for people who speak Urdu and French. And I don't speak either."

Congressional Democrats are busy prepping a massive health care overhaul for debate and some believe that moving the energy and climate bill next week could clear the decks for health care. But the most vexing problem has been satisfying farm state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who fear that potential restrictions could exponentially hurt their energy-intensive industry and boost food prices.

Peterson is trying to bridge the divides by scheduling a meeting with key lawmakers, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and climate change guru Carol Browner, and a variety of farm groups representing soybeans, corn, sugar beats, peanuts and cotton interests.

Peterson said that he believed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was willing to bend for the agriculture sector.

"She wants the farmers concerns to be addressed," he said.