Staff and Wire Reports

WASHINGTON — In a triumph for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that calls for the nation’s first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy.

The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs.

The measure passed without the support of Democrat U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, whose Third District represents almost all of Crawford County. Dahlkemper said she voted against the legislation because it will “put a disproportionate burden” on the residents of northwest Pennsylvania.

“When weighing what was a particularly difficult decision for her, Rep. Dahlkemper actively listened to and spoke with Pennsylvanians, small business owners, manufacturers and farmers across the district and participated in hearings on the small business, science and technology, and agriculture committees,” said a Friday night news release from her Washington office.

“I believe that global climate change remains one of the most serious concerns facing the United States and the world today,” she said in the release. “After struggling with this decision, I ultimately had to do what was best for those I represent, especially in the midst of a severe recession. While it is critical that our nation transition away from fossil fuels, I could not support a bill that places a disproportionate burden on northwestern Pennsylvanians as we move toward that goal.”

Because “heavy manufacturing and steel production are crucial industries to the economic vitality, jobs and families of northwestern Pennsylvania,” Dahlkemper said, “the legislation will leave these jobs vulnerable to countries like China and India that are not subject to cap-and-trade laws.” She went on to explain that “the Congressional Budget Office reports that large segments of the U.S. economy either do not face significant foreign competition or involve trade with countries that already have a cap-and-trade program, like the European Union,” in backing up her claim of “disproportionate burden.”

The House’s action fulfilled Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s vow to clear major energy legislation before July 4, and sent the measure to a highly uncertain fate in the Senate.

Obama lobbied recalcitrant Democrats by phone from the White House as the debate unfolded across several hours, and Al Gore posted a statement on his Web site saying the measure represents “an essential first step towards solving the climate crisis.” The former vice president won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work drawing attention to the destructive potential of global warming.

On the House floor, Democrats hailed the legislation as historic, while Republicans said it would damage the economy without solving the nation’s energy woes.

It is “the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of our country,” said Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts. “It sets a new course for our country, one that steers us away from foreign oil and towards a path of clean American energy.”

But Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican leader, used an extraordinary one-hour speech shortly before the final vote to warn of unintended consequences in what he said was a “defining bill.” He called it a “bureaucratic nightmare” that would cost jobs, depress real estate prices and put the government into parts of the economy where it now has no role.

The legislation would require the U.S. to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and by about 80 percent by mid-century. That was slightly more aggressive than Obama originally wanted, 14 percent by 2020 and the same 80 percent by mid-century.

U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are rising at about 1 percent a year and are predicted to continue increasing without mandatory limits.

Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants and issue allowances for polluters. Most of the allowances would be given away, but about 15 percent would be auctioned by bid and the proceeds used to defray higher energy costs for lower-income individuals and families.