While the health care debate is currently dominating the headlines, the federal climate change bill will be the next major legislative battle. The House of Representative passed climate change legislation in June, the centerpiece of which is a massive federal cap and trade program for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Senate is expected to consider the issue in the next legislative session. California has been at the forefront of the climate change issue, passing the Global Warming Solutions Act in 2006 which requires aggressive action to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. True to its form, California has taken the lead in urging the Senate to pass a climate change bill that also preserves state authority to implement programs that complement any federal program.
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