The Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill has passed the House of Representatives late Friday night.  Although the bill is too watered-down for many progressives, it does seem indeed to be better than no bill at all; considering it only passed by 7 votes, it seems the US came very close to having no bill. 

Sam Stein: "The climate change bill would reset drastically the way the U.S. government approaches the issue of regulating pollution. Instituting a cap and trade system, the bill aims to cut America\'s production of greenhouse gases by 17 percent by 2020, and 83 percent by 2050. The legislation also includes provisions to create alternative energy sources and cleaner technologies, as well as more efficient building standards.

In an effort to recruit the support of lawmakers sitting on the fence, its authors, prominent progressive Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif) and Ed Markey (D-Mass), reduced goals for carbon emission reductions and threw in favors for the coal and agricultural industries."