Not a bad start but will the administration actually make an effort to fight for this or will we see the familiar big talk and then fold? The Republicans will no doubt spin this as a cost that's too high for an economy in trouble. Business can't afford it, they will charge. So what about families? Can they afford it? What about their health care costs due to pollution? Why are business costs more important than family costs? If anyone has more cash in their pockets today, it's business. Unless Obama and the Democrats decide to fight, it won't matter.
The United States pledged Thursday to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels under an international climate agreement, though it made its commitment contingent on passing legislation at home.
The Obama administration submitted its much-anticipated reduction target to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat under the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding deal brokered by the United States last month at the U.N.-sponsored climate talks. Under the deal President Obama helped secure in Copenhagen, major emitters of greenhouse gases are expected to "inscribe" their reduction targets by Jan. 31.
