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CONGRESS

Skeptics speak out against carbon cap

A bipartisan group of coal- and oil-state lawmakers said Wednesday they would vote against any climate-protection plan that results in a massive loss of jobs, though it was unclear if there are enough of them to stop President Obama's cap-and-trade greenhouse-gas proposal from becoming law.

Rep. Gene Green, Texas Democrat, told a panel of economists that any sort of carbon-reduction proposal that fails to protect American jobs will find little support in the House.

"I can't vote for it," said Mr. Green, who represents an oil-producing district in Houston.

"What happens to these coal miner jobs?" asked Illinois Republican John Shimkus, as he held up a large, black-and-white picture of blue-collar workers.

"I challenge the Democrats to move this bill, because we will defeat them at the polls," Mr. Shimkus said during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee on energy and environment.

PENTAGON

Missile shield under microscope

A plan to expand a U.S. ballistic-missile shield into Eastern Europe is being scrutinized as part of a 2010 budget request to be sent to Congress next month, the Pentagon's chief financial officer told Congress on Wednesday.