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| US Congress set for climate vote | US Congress set for climate vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US Congress is preparing to vote on an historic climate change bill aimed at reducing the country's emissions. | The US Congress is preparing to vote on an historic climate change bill aimed at reducing the country's emissions. |
| The legislation will put curbs on pollution and apply market principles to attempts to tackle global warming. | The legislation will put curbs on pollution and apply market principles to attempts to tackle global warming. |
| The bill cleared a procedural hurdle in the House of Representatives by just 12 votes, and could be passed in a vote there later in the day. | The bill cleared a procedural hurdle in the House of Representatives by just 12 votes, and could be passed in a vote there later in the day. |
| Critics say the bill, a key election pledge of President Barack Obama, will cost jobs and raise prices. | Critics say the bill, a key election pledge of President Barack Obama, will cost jobs and raise prices. |
| Mr Obama said the Clean Energy and Security Act, which seeks cut emissions by 17% by 2020 and force a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources, would "open the door to a new, clean energy economy" and reduce US dependence on imported oil. | Mr Obama said the Clean Energy and Security Act, which seeks cut emissions by 17% by 2020 and force a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources, would "open the door to a new, clean energy economy" and reduce US dependence on imported oil. |
| It would also create thousands of jobs and "finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy", said the president. | It would also create thousands of jobs and "finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy", said the president. |
| If this bill becomes law, Americans will pay higher taxes every time we turn on our lights John Culberson Texas representative | If this bill becomes law, Americans will pay higher taxes every time we turn on our lights John Culberson Texas representative |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped the passing of the bill would allow for "a celebration of American leadership taking its rightful place". | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hoped the passing of the bill would allow for "a celebration of American leadership taking its rightful place". |
| But opponents of the bill, both Republicans and Democrats, say it will lead to massive job losses in the US and impose greater taxes on every American. | But opponents of the bill, both Republicans and Democrats, say it will lead to massive job losses in the US and impose greater taxes on every American. |
| Republican Indiana Representative Mike Pence, said it amounted to "the largest tax increase in American history under the guise of climate change". | |
| Texan Republican Representative John Culberson said it was "equivalent to a light switch tax". | Texan Republican Representative John Culberson said it was "equivalent to a light switch tax". |
| "If this bill becomes law, Americans will pay higher taxes every time we turn on our lights," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | "If this bill becomes law, Americans will pay higher taxes every time we turn on our lights," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. |
| The bill has been widely supported by environmentalists but there are concerns that it will not go far enough towards addressing climate change. | The bill has been widely supported by environmentalists but there are concerns that it will not go far enough towards addressing climate change. |