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WHITE HOUSE: We Don't Want 'Dysfunction In Congress' To Kill The UN Climate Deal

• http://www.businessinsider.com

At a media briefing Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the administration's planning was simply taking into account the current "dysfunction in Congress."

"We would not want to enter a situation where we did try to broker an agreement that did require some sort of Senate ratification and then have that fall victim once again ? as so many other priorities have ? to dysfunction in Congress," Earnest said.

According to the Times, Obama is pursuing a "politically binding" U.N. agreement ? as opposed to a "legally binding" one that would require ratification of a two-thirds majority of the Senate ? that would "name and shame" countries into decreasing emissions of fossil fuels.

The State Department insisted Wednesday that no deal had been reached and thus it would be "entirely premature to say whether it will or won't require Senate approval." However, Earnest noted Obama "hasn't been shy" in his desire to address the issue and it would not be surprising for the president to seek this sort of international agreement.


www.universityofreason.com/a/29887/KWADzukm