Here is another note on the "Clear Skies" bill. Air, Energy and Climate On 3/9, Sen. Inhofe (R-OK), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, forced a vote on the president's "Clear Skies" bill (S. 131). The vote was a 9-9 tie, with Sen. Chafee (R-RI) and Sen. Jeffords (I-VT) voting with all seven committee Democrats against the bill. Although the tie vote means the bill failed to pass out of committee, Senate Majority Leader Frist (R- TN) could use a special procedure to bypass the committee and bring the bill directly to the Senate floor. The bill would weaken the Clean Air Act by allowing power plants to release more pollution, and also fails to address controls on carbon dioxide. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/