Clear Skies analysis vs. Kerry-Boxer “analysis”

Clear Skies Markup was delayed three times to accommodate the request of Democrats asking for more time.

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Despite complaints over lack of modeling data from the Administration, the Committee received over 10,000 pages of data, far more than Congress received during the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. 24 hearings were held by the EPW Committee on multi-emissions issues. Majority and minority staff were informed of the Committee's schedule and focus on Clear Skies on November 15, 2004. Bipartisan staff briefings on the legislation were provided by the Administration and industry and environmental organizations. Multiple member to member meetings and discussions occurred. Daily bipartisan staff negotiations occurred for five weeks. Due to specific requests for a process to develop compromise legislation, the business meeting was delayed two weeks so that extensive negotiations could occur. Three bipartisan member meetings were held to discuss a path forward. Numerous one-on-one meetings between chairman and ranking member of air subcommittee.

Kerry-Boxer

No comprehensive economic analysis of the bill. EPA provided a 38-page narrative to the committee. EPA did not do modeling runs on key issues, such as the availability of offsets, nuclear power, and international action by China and India. The analysis will not be helpful in providing a comprehensive understanding of the bill's economic impacts jobs and on family budgets.

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