In a broader divide among Republicans over the party's direction, Graham urges "center-right" compromise and pragmatic solutions to the country's pressing problems over conservative ideological purity.

When one activist tried to shout him down in May at the South Carolina Republican Convention, Graham retorted: "I'm a winner, pal. Winning matters to me. If it doesn't matter to you, there's the exit sign."

The cap-and-trade law sought by Kerry and Graham would be similar to a landmark 1990 measure — supported and signed by Republican President George H.W. Bush — that reduced acid rain by cutting emissions of sulfur and nitrogen dioxides.

Now, firms would choose between installing anti-pollution equipment on factories and power plants vs. buying emissions credits from companies that cut carbon output.

Kerry bridles at GOP claims that such a carbon-control system would produce a hidden tax increase, with utilities, energy companies and other manufacturers passing on their increased costs to customers.

"There is no tax," Kerry said. "It is a private investment incentive where a company is given the right to buy from a company that's reduced its pollution — to buy the right to pollute for a period of time. That's a private exchange. That's called capitalism. That's the private marketplace working at its best."

For his part, Graham believes that Republicans must stop denying that global warming is a dire problem — and stop blocking the growth of alternative forms of energy that he says could become a powerful economic engine.

"We need to lead the world rather than follow the world on carbon pollution," he said. "Our country doesn't have the infrastructure in place to build a green economy, and never will until we price carbon. And our country doesn't have a vision for energy independence. We need one."

Comfortably elected a year ago to his second term, Graham has turned working with Democrats on high-profile causes into a cottage industry.

Graham's controversial stances on issues ranging from immigration and judicial nominations to terror trials and health care land him regular spots on national TV, but they also enrage conservative activists in his state and beyond.

He was part of the Gang of 14 — seven Republican senators and seven Democratic senators — that in 2005 brokered a compromise over President George W. Bush's picks for federal judgeships.

More recently, he was part of the Gang of 10 that unsuccessfully pushed a comprehensive energy plan last year.

Graham also belongs to the bipartisan Gang of 12 senators who've sponsored compromise health care legislation that has gained little traction.

"I've been in so many gangs, they're going to put out an arrest warrant for me," Graham quipped last week as he rushed, surrounded by reporters, through a narrow corridor in the U.S. Capitol.

But so far on climate change, there's no gang of Republican senators joining Democrats in common cause.

Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee boycotted the panel's vote Thursday passing a climate change bill crafted by Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California.

Graham backed the boycott, saying the Boxer legislation would impose draconian penalties on manufacturers while offering no concessions on offshore drilling or nuclear power.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@