Oregon Public Broadcasting

Monday the U.S. Senate begins debate on a climate change bill. If it passes, it could initiate the most direct federal action yet on global warming. April Baer reports on where Oregon's Senators stand.

The Warner-Lieberman bill demands deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. It would also set up a cap and trade system, meant to push businesses to make meaningful reductions.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden co-sponsored an early version of the bill, and approves of this draft.

Republican Senator Gordon Smith says he welcomes debate on the bill, but is declining to take a position yet.

The Nature Conservancy funded a recent poll to test voters' feelings on the Warner-Lieberman bill.

Lori Weigel of Public Opinion Strategies says Democrats, Republicans and Independents in Oregon all said they wanted action on global warming.

Lori Weigel: "The numbers are within the margin of error across the state in any type of community, from an urban area to a rural area, voters are saying overwhelmingly that their representatives in Congress should support this type of legislation to reduce global warming."

The poll's margin of error was about 4-percent.  The survey reached 500 Oregon voters in mid-May.