Clean air bill deadlocks in Senator Jim Inhofe's committee

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A Republican majority couldn't help President Bush's clean-air bill get passage in an Oklahoma senator's committee.<br/><br/>Members of the Environment and Public Works

Thursday, March 10th 2005, 6:38 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A Republican majority couldn't help President Bush's clean-air bill get passage in an Oklahoma senator's committee.

Members of the Environment and Public Works Committee chaired by Senator Jim Inhofe voted 9-to-9 Wednesday for the bill, which is aimed at reducing emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

According to a story from The Oklahoman's Washington bureau, the deadlock prevents the measure from moving to the full Senate.

Inhofe couldn't get the bill out of the committee in the last Congress but was optimistic that an increased Republican majority this year would help the legislation.

But besides Democrats on the committee, opposition came from one Republican and an independent.

Some senators and many environmental groups opposed the measure because it didn't address carbon dioxide emissions.

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman says voting for Bush's Clear Skies proposal would've been a clear mistake.