Reply #2: It might be that that impression - driven by the first sentence is written to make the Democrats

[karynnj]

look bad. Look at it this way - in the past there were NO costs to throwing carbon in the air. Now, they will pay when they go over a limit - and over time as technology improves, the limits can be lowered. There is also really no contradiction with Obama's campaign plan. (He never said he was for Gore's carbon tax which does start at Zero.)

"Obama's plan would require companies that emit more than the limit to purchase all emission permits, to help raise funds for clean energy technology. That means you do not need carbon permits from the first drop emitted - just those over the limit. Nothing in Bingaman's comments lead me to reach your conclusion - that you can pollute all you want. In fact, the allowances in Bingaman's statement ARE the limits in Obama's.

This looks like creating dissension before it is there. (In fact, it resembles the "Obama promised no earmarks - when that is not what he said. To me, this is either sloppy reporting or a first step in raising the bar so Obama if he gains the major accomplishment of signing a cap and trade bill - will be said to have not kept a campaign promise.)