It passed! The most important energy and climate change legislation in American history passed the House and next stop is the Senate.
Everyone in Congress claims to care about clean energy. Here's how the Illinois delegation voted when it mattered most.
Yes -11
Bean
Davis
Gutierrez
Halverson
Hare
Jackson
Kirk
Lipinski
Quigley
Rush
Schakowsky
No -8
Costello
Biggert
Foster
Johnson
Manzullo
Roskam
Schock
Shimkus
Mark Kirk was the only Republican to vote in favor. Costello and Foster were the only Democrats to vote against.
Foster surprised me. The Sierra Club made a strong effort to help elect him. Any member of Congress who voted against this bill will have a very difficult time getting the support of any major environmental group.
Of course, the bill is imperfect. Compromises to the coal industry and other polluters were made to get it passed. The next step is getting a stronger version through the Senate.