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Happy inauguration day! 
Now, let's get to work. With control of the White House & Congress, what can Dems do on climate in the next 100 days? Let's learn about the sexy Congressional Review Act and Budget Reconciliation ( @CC_Yale article + thread): https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/commentary-what-biden-and-democatic-senate-can-do-on-climate-in-their-first-100-days/
Now, let's get to work. With control of the White House & Congress, what can Dems do on climate in the next 100 days? Let's learn about the sexy Congressional Review Act and Budget Reconciliation ( @CC_Yale article + thread): https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/commentary-what-biden-and-democatic-senate-can-do-on-climate-in-their-first-100-days/
Via the Congressional Review Act, the Dem Congressional majority can undo any Trump-era regulations finalized since June 2020. A new @EPA rule to exclude co-benefits from cost-benefit analyses is a big one that needs to be burned to the ground ASAP.
Since the Senate filibuster will likely remain in place, budget reconciliation will be the main vehicle through which to pass climate legislation. That process is limited to one package per year, ready for congressional review around April 15th.
Potential reconciliation bills are subject to 2 main rules.
1) They need a majority – 51 Senate votes (including @VP, if a tiebreaker is needed) and a House majority.
2) Per the Byrd Rule, the Parliamentarian needs to determine that the bill is primarily budgetary in nature.
1) They need a majority – 51 Senate votes (including @VP, if a tiebreaker is needed) and a House majority.
2) Per the Byrd Rule, the Parliamentarian needs to determine that the bill is primarily budgetary in nature.
A carbon tax is an obvious candidate. It clearly meets rule #2, and nearly all Dems support one. @Sen_JoeManchin may be an exception, but @lisamurkowski & @MittRomney have left the door open. 51 votes won't be easy, but remains possible (get to work lobbying, @citizensclimate!).
Then there's the combination of standards/investment/justice. Investment in clean tech/infrastructure/research will be a key component of a reconciliation package. And @POTUS has promised nearly half of that investment will be directed toward poor & minority communities.
Standards are tricker. @POTUS has a target of 100% clean US electricity by 2035. Though standards are regulatory not budgetary in nature, @leahstokes @EvergreenAction @DataProgress have come up with 5 ways to give them a budgetary component to meet Byrd. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-11/climate-experts-game-out-biden-s-2035-goal-in-a-split-senate
But @Sen_JoeManchin seems not too keen on standards either, so whatever big climate bills make it into reconciliation may still be decided by Murkowski/Romney/Collins. If you live in AK/UT/ME/WV (also @SenatorTester in MT, @karinkirk_mt), get to work lobbying these senators!
And @POTUS is about to sign some Exec Orders to get us back in Paris and review some key climate regulatory issues like the social cost of carbon and fuel efficiency standards. Very important stuff! I'll have a piece related to the SCC (via @Capi_Planeta @ClimateFran) next week.
There will also be some must-pass budget funding bills in the future in which climate investments will be included. But reconciliation gives Democrats (and maybe a few key Republicans) the opportunity to get major climate legislation passed quickly! https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/commentary-what-biden-and-democatic-senate-can-do-on-climate-in-their-first-100-days/
