A leading Senate Republican voice on climate legislation said yesterday that he expects the Senate can pass a resolution handcuffing U.S. EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. "I think it will pass," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "There are a lot of people who will be in the camp of, 'We should do it, not the EPA.'"

The Senate passed, 59-39, a comprehensive financial reform bill late yesterday that will bring regulation to the over-the-counter derivative markets but provide an exemption for utilities and manufacturers. The bill passed with four Republicans voting yes: Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Two Democrats voted against the bill, Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and two were absent, Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.