As Senator, Rep. Kirk Would Oppose Climate Bill He Backed

[ccharles000]

Illinois Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, who was a rare Republican vote for a "cap and trade" climate change bill three months ago, says he would oppose the measure as a U.S. senator.

At a Republican rally last weekend in suburban DuPage County, Kirk drew boos from the crowd when he said he voted for the bill "because it was in the narrow interest of my congressional district."

After pausing to acknowledge the opposition, Kirk drew cheers when he said, "As your representative, representing the entire state of Illinois, I would vote 'no' on that bill coming up."

"And that's because we are a manufacturing, agriculture and coal state, and ... we need to build 50 new nuclear reactors in the United States. We need to drill offshore for American energy," Kirk said.

Kirk is in his fifth term representing Illinois' 10th District, a collection of mostly upscale and well-educated suburbs north of Chicago that have been trending Democratic. Kirk's electoral success in that district and his independent-minded voting record -- he was one of just eight Republicans who voted for the climate change bill when it narrowly passed the House in June -- are among the reasons he is the preferred candidate of national Republican officials in President Obama's home state.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/09/rep-mark-steven-kirkhttpwwwcqp.html