Is it hot in DC or is it just global warming?

Agriculture, biofuels and environmental groups are all weighing in on the sweeping “climate change” bill expected to come up for a vote in the House tomorrow. A deal made by House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) this week paved the way for the legislation that Peterson had threatened to hold hostage.

Here’s a sample of some comments from key groups – *being updated as we receive more releases*

American Farm Bureau – “Vote ‘No’ on Climate Change Bill, ‘Yes’ on Peterson Amendment”
American Farmland Trust – “We support this bill moving forward to a successful vote on the House floor.”
National Pork Producers – “…cannot support climate change legislation even with the compromise language agreed to late Wednesday.”
National Corn Growers – “…will remain neutral on the overall bill until we can fully analyze the impact on our growers.”
American Soybean Association – “…given the potential costs to farmers and to the U.S. soybean industry, ASA opposes this climate change bill.” (That may change as ASA has an exec committee meeting Friday morning and now says the statement was “distributed prematurely” although it was already quoted earlier today in the Washington Post)
National Cotton Council – “… urges support for Chairman Peterson’s amendments but can not support the bill without significant modifications and improvements.”
National Sorghum Producers – “…cannot in the best interests of our producer members and agriculture in general, support the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.”
National Association of Wheat Growers – “…supports the passage of H.R. 2454 with the Peterson amendment. This is not perfect legislation, but legislation rarely is.”
Renewable Fuels Association – “We look forward to supporting the underlying bill following the adoption of the Peterson amendment.”
Greenpeace – “We call on the Congress to reject this bill and begin immediate and urgent work on legislation that treats seriously the dire threat of climate change.”

Lobbying for and against the bill is as hot and heavy on Capitol Hill today as the summer heat wave here in the Midwest. At latest count, the Democrats are about 35 votes short of the 218 needed to get the legislation passed.