Treehumper

In a historic vote on Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping reform of the health care system in this country. Almost immediately, pundits began hypothesizing on the effect that this progressive success will have on another of President Obama’s goals, a comprehensive climate and energy bill. The consensus is that no one has any fucking idea.

These guys thinks it will help to pass a climate bill. These guys call those guys assholes and say the exact opposite. Reuters says we’ll have to wait to see if health care reform is successful until we know how it will affect the rest of the president’s agenda; of course, much of the bill doesn’t take effect until 2018 or something, so uh, thanks Reuters.

Some other newspaper points out that there are other things to deal with too, so climate might have to wait. Politico says something about poisoning a well, so can someone call the cops and make sure to watch them for a few days, maybe? Thanks.

Also, a recent compromise on offshore drilling that appears to have found its way into an upcoming draft of a climate bill has “frightened” some environmental groups. But further investigation revealed the frightened ones to be the Audubon Society and the Rainforest Alliance, and everyone knows those guys are pussies anyway. I think it dates back to when the Environmental Defense Fund sexually assaulted both of them at a particularly rowdy party somewhere near Dupont Circle.

Clearly, no one really has any idea what will happen with climate and energy legislation. But health care passed, and every news outlet in the country is required to try and connect it to the other thing that people think Congress should do. But we resist, and report fearlessly that yes, the passage of health care doesn’t mean shit for the climate bill.