Climate Change Bill: Republican Kirk Votes In Favor, Democrat Foster Against

Progress Illinois:

[W]hen it came to the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, the real wild cards among the Illinois congressional delegation were Democrat Bill Foster and Republicans Mark Kirk and Judy Biggert. This afternoon, Biggert made clear that she was going to oppose the bill. And moments ago, the full House voted on the measure, approving it by a vote of 219-212. In the end, Kirk voted in favor, while Foster against. It will be interesting to read the explanations from both of them

Read the whole story: Progress Illinois

Comments

[expired]

Dear MoveOn member,
The U.S. House passed a huge energy bill Friday. Lots of good people are applauding the passage of this legislation. But here's the ugly truth:

Big Oil and Coal lobbyists, working in cahoots with some conservative Blue Dog Democrats, weakened the bill terribly—it now falls far short of President Obama's campaign vision to transition America's economy to clean energy and create millions of new jobs.

In fact, the bill repeals a key part of the Clean Air Act and doesn't do nearly enough to shift America to renewable energy—so instead of a boom in solar and wind, the bill locks us into dirty coal power for another generation­.1

Working with progressive champions in the House, we were able to achieve modest gains at the eleventh hour (see details below). But saving the Clean Air Act and fixing other problems with the bill as the fight moves to the Senate will require a massive grassroots outcry.

So we have a decision to make: Should MoveOn launch a full-court press to fix the bill, and turn up the heat on senators who might be tempted to side with Big Oil and Coal?

Click to vote:

"Yes. Let's fight to save the Clean Air Act and fix the energy bill."
"No. I don't think we should do that." (And tell us why.)
We'll go forward if 2/3 of us who vote think it makes sense.

[guinganbresil]

Shame on all who voted for it!

(I have read some it... it is bad...)

[Rosey]

Shame on all who voted against it!

[Jimmy Seidita - Huffpost Blogger]

Kirk deserves credit for a gutsy vote. No doubt there was huge pressure from his party leadership, and I'm equally sure that it was tempting to try to steal some votes downstate next year by grandstanding against this bill in coal country. This looks to me like a case of a rep with a tough choice who ultimately did what he thought was right for his country, despite the consequences to his own political career. Regardless of how you feel about Kirk's other votes or about republicans in general, give the man credit here for standing up and doing the right thing, when the path of least resistance would have been to vote the other way. He's my rep and I'm proud of that vote. Thank you Mark Kirk.

[BushBites]

Kirk will do the right thing if it's politically expedient.

I'm sure he's thinking of a future campaign and he wants to be on the right side of history on this issue.

Especially after being Bush's lap dog for so long.

[VOTER]

Agree.

[VOTER]

If you lived in the 10th District, Mark Kirk's vote came as no surprise.
Thinking Green, most of the time, is one of his few claims to fame and one
good quality attributed to him.

Also, he wasn't going against his Party "Leaders."
This was no act of courage.
His vote came with the blessing of the leadership and all
to set up his future campaign run for the Senate or Governor.

The man is a Rethug through and through.
His vote is "Campaign Icing" on an otherwise rotten GOP Cake.

[poomplet]

Your moonbat bile is leaking, and it stinks of fear.

Kirk is the only GOP politician EVER to get a 100% rating by planned parenthood.

Not only did he vote for the min. wage hike, he led the charge to strip the "Del Monte Loophole" from the bill so it would apply to territories like Guam & Samoa.

He lead the Stem Cell bill thru the House in 2005.

He's fought for veteran aid & funding at every step.

He served w/honor and is STILL a naval reservist, and completed a tour of Afghanistan in Jan '09 (the first time a US congressman has served in an area of danger since WWII).

Kirk was one of two Republicans to vote against an amendment to the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights that allowed the people to carry guns in the National Park System.

And...as this post says..he was one of only EIGHT republicans to vote for the Clean Engergy & Security act.

Pro-choice, pro-vetera­n/defense, pro-science, pro-environment, pro-sane gun laws, pro labor/work­er....

Your ignorance & prejudice is stunning, and it shows you're scared that if more GOP candidates pull their head out of the Far Right's rectum & become sane & populist, they will regain power.

[VOTER]

And Kirk has house with a front porch view of Russia in Wasilla, Alaska to sell to you.

You don't know what the heck you are taking about.
Take in one of his Town Halls.
Kirk doesn't vote without getting the GOP blessing. Never has and never will
vote his conscience.
His votes against the Party happen when it doesn't matter how he votes
and is an image booster for himself.

I live in the 10th which is a pro-choice district.
Kirk would be toast here if he didn't play his game right.

Ask him why he votes pro-choice but then supports GOP anti-choice
candidates with huge contributions? His two actions send vary mixed messages
and display total dishonestly on his part.

BTW-
Planned Parenthood wants to know. Keep up!

Even his claim of being an environmentalist has been flawed
and that could be to his owing favors to the group which gave him his
political start. The Competitive Enterprise Institute which claims
global warming is a LIE. Yup, Mark Kirk is their guy and they will
try to get him into the Senate or Governor's House. Yippee!

The only PRO, Kirk can honestly lay claim to is PRO SELF PROMOTION
while aiding and abetting the GOP Failure Platform.