Sen. Graham on the prospects for a climate-change deal

A central -- maybe the central -- player in Congress’ climate-change bill negotiations is Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. I ran into the bleary-eyed South Carolinian this afternoon, shortly after he arrived in Davos. Graham proclaimed himself "very optimistic" about the chances for a legislative solution this year. He praised the dual olive branches President Obama extended in his State of the Union address: citing the importance of nuclear power and opening new areas for off-shore drilling. Obama made similar rhetorical offerings in the health-care context, expressing openness to medical malpractice reform, Graham acknowledged. But Graham said he took this signal more seriously because, unlike with health care, Democrats know they can't pass climate-change legislation on their own.

And his own caucus? "I've been telling them this is our best chance for a generation to shape and pass a good energy bill," Graham said. "I've been telling them they're crazy if they don't take it." Among other things, he noted, the issue could help his party appeal to younger voters for whom the environment is more of a priority.

At which point Graham's fellow traveler (literally) Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) came up the stairs. Collins has her own climate-change bill, with Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell. The makings, maybe, of a deal?

Anything that puts a price on carbon, Graham said, is good by him.