Graham wants compromise

Sen. Lindsey Graham wants to be part of the process in climate legislation.

While some of his congressional colleagues refuse to admit the planet faces environmental peril from global warming, Sen. Lindsey Graham is in the thick of the effort to do something about it. He has taken heat from some of his South Carolina constituents, but we applaud his willingness to seek a reasonable middle ground on this vital issue.

Last week, in a harshly worded resolution, the Charleston County Republican Party censured Graham for undermining “Republican leadership and party solidarity for his own benefit” and trampling the “ideals of freedom, rule of law and fiscal conservatism.” Some Republican leaders in the state have said they believe Graham is more unpopular than beleaguered Gov. Mark Sanford.

This is not the first time Graham has found himself at odds with the conservative wing of his party for consorting with Democrats. Graham was one of the few Senate Republicans — along with Sen. John McCain — who were willing to negotiate on the immigration reform bill proposed by then-President George W. Bush. He also voted recently to approve Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court.

Some fellow S.C. Republicans, including Rep. Joe Wilson, have defended Graham and opposed his censure. But the reaction from most appears to be negative.

To listen to his detractors, one might think Graham was marching in lockstep with Al Gore on climate change. In truth, Graham has adopted a middle-of-the-road approach to environmental legislation.

As he noted in a column that ran Nov. 7 in The Herald, “Both sides prefer to talk past each other. They have yet to embrace the fact that if we work together, we can balance environmental protection with the needs of business.”

Graham emphasizes the goal of energy independence as much as he does the need to confront climate change. He touts nuclear plants as a key source of clean energy for the nation but believes alternative energy sources offer business opportunities for South Carolina.

In regard to reducing carbon emissions, he thinks federal legislation would provide regulatory certainty to the business community. The danger of not acting, he said, is that unelected bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency will issue their own regulations, which he calls “the worst possible scenario.”

Some South Carolina conservatives no doubt believe that blocking any efforts to control carbon emissions is the best tactic. Some even might believe that global warming is a hoax.

Graham is sensible enough to acknowledge that the problem exists. He also realizes that the only way the interests of conservatives will be reflected in climate legislation is if Republicans get off the sidelines and into the game.

The problem is not that we can't afford climate change legislation. The problem is we can't afford not to pass it.

Graham apparently would rather be part of the solution than just a naysayer.