Kerry Says Stalled Climate Bill Still Has Life

The climate hasn't changed on Capitol Hill as far as Sen. John Kerry is concerned. Kerry insisted Tuesday that Senate leaders are still committed to passing a climate change bill -- limiting harmful greenhouse gas emissions -- this year.

Kerry (D-Mass.) said the loss of the Democrats' 60-vote filibuster-proof majority hasn't changed things because "it was always going to take more than just Democrats to do this," the Hill newspaper reported.

With health care reform in a stalemate and a multibillion-dollar budget deficit looming, the so-called cap-and-trade climate bill had been all but written off by many congressional analysts -- another victim of an overly ambitious Democratic agenda.

But Kerry said Majority Leader Harry Reid is still committed to legislation combating global warming and Kerry is said to be working on yet another compromise with Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The House already passed its version of climate legislation, but Senate leaders have thus far been unable to bring a bill to the floor.

The Kerry-Lieberman-Graham plan, in addition to capping carbon dioxide emissions, would include broader support for new construction of non-polluting nuclear power plants.

Kerry spoke at a National Press Club event hosted by the New Republic magazine.