McCain and Lieberman pulling bait and switch

Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John Warner (R-Va.) are already circulating a proposed amendment [PDF] to their own Climate Security Act that would alter the bill to include more explicit support for nuclear power.

The amendment calls for “a portion of funds, as determined necessary by the appropriate committees of jurisdiction” be deposited into the Low- and Zero-Carbon Electricity Technology Fund already contained in the bill. This money would “fund a tax policy that will incentivize the manufacturing of nuclear project components in the United States.” As the bill stands currently, the nuclear industry would be already be able to access this fund, as would any low- or no-carbon technology. The amendment would carve out specific monetary support for the nuclear industry, while other renewable sources would have to contend for the remaining pot of money.

Johnny McCain is backing these changes. Said a McCain campaign advisor:

“He wants to support the bill, he supports the goals of the bill, but he believes a comprehensive nuclear component needs to be added to it.”

But it shouldn’t be at the expense of other safer alternative methods. Unless that group is part of the folks his lobbyist buddies shill for.