Climate Change Bill Passes Senate Committee WASHINGTON, DC (Associated Press) -
Democrats have ignored a Republican boycott and pushed a climate bill through a key committee by a 10 to 1 vote.

Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer had delayed the crucial vote for days because of a Republican protest over whether the cost of the legislation had been fully examined. But Boxer moved quickly to pass the bill without the help any of the seven GOP senators in the room. No amendments were considered.

The bill by the California Democrat and Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts will now be merged with legislation being written by five other Senate panels. The bill calls for cutting greenhouse gases from power plants and factories by 83 percent by 2050.
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