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US Congress set for climate vote US House supports emissions bill
(about 5 hours later)
The US Congress is preparing to vote on an historic climate change bill aimed at reducing the country's emissions. The US House of Representatives has passed a 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. It was passed by a narrow margin of 219 votes to 212, but critics say this 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. The president said the vote represented "enormous progress".
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. However, it still has to be passed by the US Senate before it can become law, and it will face another tough fight there.
Mr Obama earlier 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 representativeIf 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".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.