# Yesterday's blog highlights – May 12, 2010

*Published:* 2010-05-12
*Author:* Rebecca Rasch

*Grist* breaks down the [current climate bill situation](http://www.grist.org/article/2010-05-10-where-things-stand-on-the-kerry-lieberman-climate-bill/) and is even cautiously optimistic about Kerry and Lieberman’s abilities to attract some Republican support.

> “There are, however, some Republicans who are expected to vote for the bill if it goes to the floor.”

[An editorial](http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-oil-20100511,0,5993736.story) in the *L.A. Times* that makes the case for climate legislation [is lauded on Climate Progress](http://climateprogress.org/2010/05/11/l-a-times-climate-change-is-the-true-crisis/). The editorial concludes with this poignant message:

> “Lawmakers today aren’t seeing the forest for the trees; that will change when the forest has burned or been destroyed by bark beetles, but by then it will be too late.”

*E2* explains how the new climate bill will contain a “[compromise on offshore drilling](http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/97271-senate-climate-change-bill-seeks-compromise-on-offshore-drilling)” though still maintains targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020.

*Treehugger* goes over [the offshore oil drilling veto provision](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/senate-climate-bill-have-offshore-oil-drilling-veto-provision.php) in the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill set to be released to the public today. The full details are forthcoming but so far we do know that:

- **“**It requires an Interior Department study to determine which states could be economically and environmentally affected by a spill.
- Those affected states would then be able to veto drilling by passing a law.
- Those states that are able to go ahead with drilling will retain 37 percent of the federal revenue generated by that activity.
- Any state will be allowed to opt out of drilling that would occur in waters within 75 miles of its shore.”