WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior U.S. official on Tuesday criticized China and other leading developing countries for trying to weaken the Copenhagen Accord to fight global warming and raised the prospect that a fuller international pact may be not be struck by year’s end.

A United Nations-sponsored climate change meeting in Copenhagen in December fell short of its intended goal of producing a binding treaty, but did take some nonbinding steps toward further controlling greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

“The statements that we have seen from China and the other BASIC countries do evince a desire to limit the impact of the accord,” said Todd Stern, President Barack Obama’s senior climate negotiator. BASIC countries are Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Stern complained that BASIC countries were vague in how they would carry out pollution-reduction under the Copenhagen deal and warned that countries should not “cherry-pick” parts of the Copenhagen Accord that they like, while ignoring other provisions.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown was sworn in as a U.S. senator Thursday, ending a Democratic Party supermajority and making it harder for President Barack Obama to pursue healthcare and other legislative reforms.

Brown, who replaces the late Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, became the 41st Republican in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Until Thursday, Republican strength was at 40 seats and Democrats controlled 60, the minimum number needed to overcome procedural hurdles on bills and presidential nominations.

Brown was sworn in by Vice President Joseph Biden, who also serves as president of the Senate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown was sworn in as a U.S. senator Thursday, ending a Democratic Party supermajority and making it harder for President Barack Obama to pursue healthcare and other legislative reforms.

Brown, who replaces the late Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, became the 41st Republican in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Until Thursday, Republican strength was at 40 seats and Democrats controlled 60, the minimum number needed to overcome procedural hurdles on bills and presidential nominations.

Brown was sworn in by Vice President Joseph Biden, who also serves as president of the Senate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Thursday introduced legislation aimed at slashing emissions of sulfur dioxide, mercury and nitrogen oxide from smokestacks including coal-fired power plants.

The measure, which has stalled in Congress in years past, also would set up nationwide trading systems for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution permits, its sponsors said.

But it does not tackle the much larger and controversial question of how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions blamed for climate change. Separate negotiations are underway on a greenhouse gas emissions bill.

Democratic Senator Thomas Carper, a main sponsor of the legislation unveiled on Thursday, complained that legal challenges have held up Environmental Protection Agency regulations to reduce emissions of these gases.

WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – U.S. Senators are examining ways to fashion a climate control bill to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which might not include a cap-and-trade system, key senators said on Thursday. President Barack Obama called for a "comprehensive" bill during Wednesday’s State of the Union address. In his speech, Obama did not specifically mention the need for a market-based emissions cap. Some interpreted the omission as signaling that he would not actively pursue wide-ranging climate control legislation this year. "Comprehensive climate change (legislation) means pricing carbon and setting a target for reduction," Senator John Kerry, a Democrat and one of three lawmakers leading difficult talks to hammer out a compromise climate bill, told Reuters. Kerry strongly rejected the idea that progress had bogged down. "I just don’t agree with that interpretation at all," he said, adding that Senate negotiations were "making headway." Kerry said: "It’s open to how you price carbon. People need to relax and look at all the ways you might price carbon. We’re not pinned down to one approach." Kerry and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham are working with Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent, to include incentives for nuclear, offshore oil drilling and clean technology jobs. Graham said the nuclear and oil drilling initiatives would not advance in the Senate "without dealing with the (carbon) emission part." Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said a tax credit aimed at encouraging investment in factories that make clean energy products would be expanded by $5 billion in Obama’s upcoming budget request to Congress. The House of Representatives last year tackled global warming when it passed a bill that relies on a cap-and-trade system under which companies could trade an ever-declining number of carbon pollution permits on a market. But the Senate’s push to pass a bill, which might jack up consumers’ energy costs, could be all the harder in this congressional election year as public support appeared to dip. A Pew Research Center for the People and the Press poll said 28 percent of those surveyed listed global warming as a top priority this year, down from 38 percent in 2007. A new poll by the Yale Project on Climate Change and George Mason University concluded that fewer people believe global warming is occurring. But it also said more people now fear global warming has the potential of harming their families and future generations. HYBRID SYSTEM Kerry said he plans to outline a comprehensive bill that could be considered this spring, although he did not want to be pinned down to a definite deadline. "We are writing and drafting; we’re pulling together the titles" of a bill. Graham told Reuters Obama’s speech opening the door for nuclear power and offshore oil drilling helped efforts for a bill that could include "a hybrid system" for reducing U.S. carbon emissions. Obama acknowledged in his speech that some people doubt the science of climate change but said it was important to move on clean energy such as wind and solar power to compete with countries like China and India in the low-carbon economy. Graham said that statement and an emphasis on nuclear power could gain support but it was "yet to be determined" if senators could come up with a bill that could pass. Kevin Book, an analyst at ClearView Energy Partners in Washington, said in a note that Obama "displayed a canny understanding of the political challenges confronting recession-weary, centrist fence-sitters (in Congress)." "Voters," he wrote, "may be much more likely to embrace a plan to best other nations in trade than a plan to save other nations from rising seas (even if it’s the same plan)."Some environmentalists were angered that Obama and his fellow Democrats in Congress were receptive to more oil drilling and nuclear power. "President Obama’s support for all these dirty energy sources was a big win for corporate polluters and their Washington lobbyists, but it was a kick in the gut to environmentalists across the country," said Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica. In recent days, according to Kerry and Graham, senators have huddled with representatives of energy-intensive industries that would be most affected by government mandating less use of dirty-burning coal and oil. Graham added that under existing climate control bills, "The potential spikes to consumers are too great in terms of how utilities would have to increase their costs." The bill has been delayed in the Senate by the healthcare debate, as well as opposition from most Republicans and many moderate Democrats. It faces an uphill battle as lawmakers from oil and coal producing states say it could raise energy prices. Graham said cap-and-dividend, which would mandate carbon emission reductions while prohibiting the trading of pollution permits, is under review along with other options. A carbon tax has no support in Congress, he said. (Editing by Alan Elsner and Chris Wilson)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union address on Wednesday.

The speech came amid a public backlash against high unemployment, rising government spending and Washington’s role in shoring up ailing sectors like the banking and automotive industries — initiatives that began during Republican George W. Bush’s presidency and were continued by Democrat Obama.

But Democrats, who hold the White House and both chambers of Congress, are being blamed for the weak economy and the bailouts.

Nearly a year ago, Obama gave his first speech to Congress shortly after he took office. Here are some of the similarities and differences between the two events:

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union address on Wednesday. The speech came amid a public backlash against high unemployment, rising government spending and Washington’s role in shoring up ailing sectors like the banking and automotive industries — initiatives that began during Republican George W. Bush’s presidency and were continued by Democrat Obama. But Democrats, who hold the White House and both chambers of Congress, are being blamed for the weak economy and the bailouts. Nearly a year ago, Obama gave his first speech to Congress shortly after he took office. Here are some of the similarities and differences between the two events: * HAVE OBAMA’S PRIORITIES CHANGED? Not really. Job creation, healthcare reform and tackling energy and environmental problems were all high priorities in early 2009 and they dominated this year’s address. A year ago, Obama proclaimed that his economic agenda "begins with jobs." A year later and with about 2.2 million more jobs lost, Obama said: "Jobs must be our number one focus in 2010" as he called for passage of a jobs bill. Last year, Obama urged Congress to launch healthcare reform, but he acknowledged the difficult path. "I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process," he said. That turned out to be an understatement. This time around, Obama finds himself in the middle of a bruising fight with Republicans that threatens passage of any bill. Without reform, Obama said on Wednesday, millions will lose their health insurance this year. "I will not walk away from these Americans. And neither should the people in this chamber," he told lawmakers. But he didn’t offer a recipe for breaking the deadlock. On the energy front, Obama talked up the need for more renewables, like solar power last year. But he said Congress also must send him legislation placing "a market-based cap on carbon pollution," the emissions blamed for global warming. As with healthcare, a climate change bill is languishing in Congress. This year’s speech again called for a "comprehensive energy and climate bill." But in a shift, he didn’t specifically mention the market-based emissions cap that has become so controversial in Congress. In a nod to Republicans, Obama included new offshore oil drilling as possibly being in the energy mix, as well as more nuclear power. * ARE THERE NEW WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVES? Obama said he would create a commission to find ways to reduce the federal government’s huge budget deficits, which hit $1.4 trillion last year. For now, his budget prescription is a three-year freeze on some domestic spending. On tax policy, Obama said he will try to kill tax cuts for oil companies and fund managers making more than $250,000. He also asked Congress to send him legislation limiting lobbyists’ political campaign contributions. This is partially in reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision lifting some limits on corporations’ election activities. The president called for repealing the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy banning openly gay people from serving in the military, while prohibiting military officials from initiating inquiries on sexual orientation when soldiers are abiding by the rules. Obama ran for president in 2008 saying he would end the policy started by President Bill Clinton. * IS THE TONE DIFFERENT? Last year, Obama’s speech was part pep talk to a country in the depths of an economic recession and part primer, explaining how the United States had gotten into such a fiscal and economic mess. But he also called on the country to "pull together" after years of bickering. This year, with partisanship once again at an all-time high and public anger with Washington at fever pitch, Obama again made a concerted plea for a get-down-to-work effort. "What the American people hope — what they deserve — is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics." * WAS THERE A NEW FASHION STATEMENT? Obama delivered the 70-minute long speech (compared to last year’s 52 minutes) wearing a white shirt and red-striped "power" tie — just like last year.

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union address on Wednesday.

The speech came amid a public backlash against high unemployment, rising government spending and Washington’s role in shoring up ailing sectors like the banking and automotive industries — initiatives that began during Republican George W. Bush’s presidency and were continued by Democrat Obama.

But Democrats, who hold the White House and both chambers of Congress, are being blamed for the weak economy and the bailouts.

Nearly a year ago, Obama gave his first speech to Congress shortly after he took office. Here are some of the similarities and differences between the two events:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Wednesday, he is expected to promote alternative energy as a way of tackling global warming problems and creating more domestic jobs.

But climate change legislation is facing serious difficulties in Congress, where many politicians do not want to cast votes on legislation that some fear could eventually raise energy prices on the heels of a severe economic recession.

Also, with the November congressional elections coming into focus, lawmakers are keeping a close eye on public opinion polls, some of which show support is sinking for a climate bill this year.

Following are some possible scenarios for the legislation that aims to mandate industry reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which are blamed for global warming:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate looked likely to grudgingly approve Ben Bernanke to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman this week after the White House stepped in to defend his crisis-fighting record and rally votes.

A Reuters poll showed 38 senators were either committed to approving the nomination or leaning that way, while 17 were outright opposed or inclined that way. Senate leaders need to secure a super-majority of 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to overcome efforts by some senators to block the nomination.

Senator Richard Durbin, the assistant Democratic leader, said he thought that with some Republican support, there would be enough votes to consider and approve Bernanke’s nomination.

“He is battle-tested and I think that we need his steady hand and his good mind to bring us forward out of this recession to a growing economy,” Durbin said after meeting with Bernanke on Monday.