Will Murkowski Become Second Republican Senator to Go Along With Climate Change Bill?

U.S. Senator (R.-Alaska) Lisa Murkowski signaled on C-Span Sunday that she might go along with the climate change bill, as long as it includes provisions for expanding domestic oil drilling and nuclear energy.

"When you see changes to the land coming about ... what is causing the loss of the sea ice that adds to the erosion issues, yes, in Alaska we are seeing change," Murkowski told C-SPAN. "That's why I have been one of those Republicans who has stepped out front a little bit more on the issue of climate change."

She'd be the second. South Carolina's Lindsay Graham has already said he wants a climate change bill.

But is her price too high? It depends. Republicans have long wanted to open more parts of Alaska's north to drilling. Democrats are opposed. With current oil prices, it actually might be too expensive to drill up there anyway. But a concession given cannot be taken back so expect a heated debate. Some compromise on nuclear in some ways seems inevitable. Public opinion has warmed to nuclear and Energy Secretary Steve Chu and Steve Koonin, the DOE's chief scientist, have talked about the ability to nuclear to reduce coal dependence.