Merkel Urges Congress to Pass Climate Bill

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed a joint session of Congress today and encouraged the U.S. to take proactive steps on global warming amid bipartisan divide over a climate bill. International climate talks will be held in Copenhagen next month, and Merkel stressed the importance of industrialized nations taking the lead to embrace legislation that will curb climate change, saying that it was the only way for developing countries like India and China to follow. While Democrats responded to Merkel's words with a standing ovation, Republicans' reception was tepid. Republicans are worried that the EPA hasn't conducted a proper economic analysis of the bill yet. The bill, co-authored by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by forcing businesses to buy and sell emission permits.