Obama Hails Climate Bill

In an interview Sunday, President Obama praised the groundbreaking energy bill that squeaked by the House on Friday, calling it an “extraordinary first step” and adding that he hoped it would “prod” action by the Senate. Still, he suggested a handful of changes to the bill, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Before it reaches his desk, he’d like to get rid of a clause that would impose a tax on imports from countries that don’t have their own systems for pricing or limiting carbon dioxide emissions. But Obama is savoring the victory, The Washington Post reports, and noted Sunday that the legislation could make renewable energy into “a driver of economic growth.”