Pelosi Gambles on Climate Bill Vote Despite Dem Grumbling

Nancy Pelosi has scheduled a vote this Friday on a controversial climate change bill despite the strong reservations of some Democrats, the Hill reports. Farmbelt lawmakers fear that the sprawling bill's measures to curb emissions will put a disproportionate burden on their states with no reward. The House speaker and other top Democrats have been looking for a compromise deal as well as for votes from centrist Republicans.

Henry Waxman, chair of the Energy and and Commerce Committee, has been working to convince wary Democrats of the bill's merits. A deal hammered out yesterday would let the Department of Agriculture monitor the bill's land use provisions instead of the Environmental Protection Agency. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are also reluctant to commit to voting for the bill, and have called on President Obama to become more involved. (More Nancy Pelosi stories.)