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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Global Warming Takes Senate’s Center Stage

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Monday, June 2, 2008   

Minneapolis, MN – The United States Senate is back in session after a short holiday break, and a plan to reduce global warming pollution is high on its agenda. Christopher Cox is the Minnesota spokesman for the Pew Environmental Group. He says the proposal takes a significant, but do-able, step toward cutting back on "greenhouse emissions."

"The bill would mandate that we lower emissions in all of the major sectors of the economy by 15 percent below 2005 levels in 2020, and 70 percent by 2050."

The plan relies on a "cap and trade" system, which sets up a free market to help reduce global pollution. It allows companies to buy and sell emission credits to meet their needs, while keeping within the overall targets.

Opponents argue the requirements would drive energy costs even higher and keep down an already-weak economy. However,
Cox believes the "cap and trade" system of regulating emissions works because it provides an economic incentive for companies to participate.

"The 'cap' requires industries that pollute to steadily decrease the amount of carbon that they release into the atmosphere. The 'trade' side of that is we provide some flexibility to the companies to purchase what we call 'pollution credits' if they fail to meet the 'cap' requirements."

He adds the plan will slow the effects of climate change, such as coastal flooding and the growing risk of drought and wildfires. The proposal also includes incentives for Minnesota and other states that are already trying to take action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

"This bill offers a soft landing to states who have already begun to take a leadership role on the issue of global warming. States like Minnesota would have access to more than $560 billion in what they call 'free allowances' over the next 40 years or so."

All three top presidential candidates support a "cap and trade" strategy to reduce greenhouse gases.


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