Texas Republican: Waxman ‘doesn’t have the nuts’ to pass energy bill

The global warming debate is heating up in the House, leading to the kind of quirky moments that are a common feature of life on the Hill.

This week, Henry Waxman, D-Calif., will bring his Waxman-Markey climate-control bill before the Energy and Commerce Committee he chairs.

Just minutes after Waxman announced he was “very, very close” to agreement on the legislation, his Republican counterpart held his own press conference, using some choice words to downplay Waxman’s confidence.

Rep. Joe Barton, the ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, said Waxman “doesn’t have the nuts” to pass his energy bill.

Barton, who represents Texas’ 6th District, has received $2.5 million from the oil, gas, and utility lobbies over the course of his political career according to the Center for Responsive Politics. His proposal has no cap-and-trade provision and amends definition of “air pollutant” to exclude carbon dioxide.

Read the rest of the story at the Huffington Post.

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