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Two state Democrats Join Cap-and-Trade Push

By Beacon Staff

BOZEMAN – A pair of the Montana Legislature’s Democrats say they will join leaders from other states to help President Barack Obama’s administration push hotly contested federal clean-energy legislation in Congress.

Rep. Mike Phillips of Bozeman and Sen. Dave Wanzenried of Missoula are part of a working group of 40 other state legislators from elsewhere in the country who will be touting the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

The bill to establish a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases was narrowly approved in the U.S. House in late June.

Democratic supporters argued the bill would create millions of “green jobs” as the nation shifts to greater reliance on renewable energy sources. Republicans contend it’s a “job killer” that would push families’ energy bills higher and drive businesses overseas.

In a press release Friday, Phillips pointed to Montana’s renewable portfolio standards as a sign his state is ready to lead on green energy.