Considered a huge success by the left, the Clear Skies Act has been effectively killed in the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee when its votes split 9-9.

Included among the Democrats who voted against the Bush-sponsored bill are Barack Obama (D-IL), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT).

These four Senators are significant names in the coming electoral cycle because of their respective histories of battling from the left.

  • Hillary Clinton is expected to run in the 2008 primary
  • Barack Obama became famous during the last presidential election and there is some talk of him running in 2008.
  • Joseph Lieberman ran in the Democratic primaries during the 2004 election
  • Barbara Boxer, while she didn’t run for president nor is she expected to, became a champion of grassroots causes when she publicly challenged the outcome of last year’s election.