In a squeaker, the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, by a vote of 219-212.

44 Dems voted against the bill, and 8 Republicans crossed the aisle in support.

Where the Senate takes this, no one yet knows. Then, in all likelihood, conference. So there's a long road ahead yet, with plenty of opportunity for the bill to turn in either direction (though we know what direction the Senate usually turns).

Lots of specific predictions by Republicans during the debate on exact numbers of jobs that would be lost if the bill passes. But of course, they made the same predictions about the stimulus bill. And the budget. And the 1993 Clinton stimulus package. And the Clinton budget. And Medicare. And Social Security. Etc., etc., etc.

The Dem 44: Altmire, Arcuri, Barrow, Berry, Boren, Bright, Carney, Childers, Costa, Costello, Dahlkemper, Davis (AL), Davis (TN), DeFazio, Donnelly, Edwards (TX), Foster, Griffith, Herseth Sandlin, Holden, Kirkpatrick, Kissell, Kucinich, Marshall, Massa, Matheson, McIntyre, Melancon, Minnick, Mitchell, Mollohan, Nye, Ortiz, Pomeroy, Rahall, Rodriguez, Ross, Salazar, Stark, Tanner, Taylor, Visclosky, Wilson (OH).

The GOP 8: Bono, Castle, Kirk, Lance, Lobiondo, McHugh, Reichert and Smith (NJ).

Not a perfect bill as it was pretty diluted in the end (Greenpeace rejected it so you guys can feel comfortable being on the side of Greenpeace) but could be a good start none-the-less.

Cooking up a little home brew beer this evening....a hoppy I.P.A. Thinking about calling it "Waxman-Markey Ale" in honor of the fellas.