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Scroll down for updates…Bill is killed for now; Dems fall 12 votes short

Good news: The Lieberman–Warner eco-boondoggle is set to go down in flames today. But this is no time to rest. While the massive tax hike/green slush fund bill will most likely be shelved, it’ll come back sooner or later. And when it does, keep your eyes on “moderate” Republicans such as John Sununu who will try to appease their red-faced greenie donors and lobbyists by pulling a “for it before I was against it maneuver” this morning a la John Kerry.

As for the presumptive presidential candidates and the hanger-on, none of them are expected to show up today to vote.

It’s leadership we can believe in!

Snort.

CQ reports:

After a week of partisan squabbling and parliamentary maneuvering, the chamber will vote Friday morning on a motion to invoke cloture and limit debate on a substitute amendment by Barbara Boxer , D-Calif., chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. If, as expected, the motion does not get the required 60 votes, the bill is unlikely to come up on the floor again this Congress.

“We really didn’t expect to have such a truncated debate,” said Boxer. “We are working colleague to colleague to see how many votes we have to stop the filibuster.”

Supporters of the bill had hoped the Senate would begin to lay the political groundwork for action under the next presidential administration. But the unrelated fight over judges halted floor discussion on the legislation only two days after it began.

With both parties accusing the other of obstruction, it is unclear if either of them stands to reap a political gain. “I don’t think either side came off well, politically. Dysfunction doesn’t serve either party’s interest,” said Paul Bledsoe, a spokesman for the National Commission on Energy Policy.

A spokeswoman for Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., said if the cloture motion does fail, there is a possibility the Senate could take it up again. The bill would be placed back on the calendar after Friday’s vote. However, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin , D-Ill., said it was “not likely” that the Senate would revisit the bill.

Make your voice heard: Senate switchboard number is 202-224-3121.