Bipartisan Support Building for Energy Security Bill; Thune out of Step

Senator Thune has famously vowed to fight the American Clean Energy and Security Act "with every fiber of my being." Perhaps Senator Thune should check what fiber his fellow Republican Senator Lendsey Graham has in his diet. Graham just co-authored an op-ed with Democratic Senator John Kerry calling for passage of ACESA:

The message to those who have stalled for years is clear: killing a Senate bill is not success; indeed, given the threat of agency regulation, those who have been content to make the legislative process grind to a halt would later come running to Congress in a panic to secure the kinds of incentives and investments we can pass today. Industry needs the certainty that comes with Congressional action [Senator John Kerry and Senator Lindsey Graham, "Yes We Can (Pass Climate Change Legislation)," New York Times, 2009.10.11].

Graham and Kerry "agree that climate change is real and threatens our economy and national security." They agree we need to get serious about kicking our addiction to foreign oil. They agree we need to protect American jobs and competitiveness. They agree we can pass a comprehensive energy security bill this year that can do all that. Most importantly, they agree that passing ACESA is not some wimpy green fantasy but solid pro-America policy:

Even climate change skeptics should recognize that reducing our dependence on foreign oil and increasing our energy efficiency strengthens our national security. Both of us served in the military. We know that sending nearly $800 million a day to sometimes-hostile oil-producing countries threatens our security. In the same way, many scientists warn that failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will lead to global instability and poverty that could put our nation at risk [Kerry and Graham, 2009.10.11].

Take your pick, Senator Thune. Listen to me, listen to Senator Kerry, listen to your fellow Republican Senator Graham. We're all singing from the same page: pass ACESA.