Finally...

President George W. Bush is expected to announce as early as this week that he wants Congress to pass a bill to combat global warming.

"This is an attempt to move the administration and the party closer to the center on global warming. With these steps, it is hoped that the debate over this is over, and it is time to do something," said an administration source close to the White House who is familiar with the planning and who said to expect an announcement this week. The source requested anonymity to be able to speak on a sensitive matter still under debate.

Some lawmakers are opposed to any discussion about global warming regulations. Senior White House officials met with a group of Republican lawmakers last week to gauge their reaction concerning a range of climate change proposals. A GOP operative, who was briefed on the meeting, said the meeting did not go well and that some participants called the meeting "political appeasement."

Although some lawmakers are opposed to climate change talk, all three presidential candidates have said greenhouse gases must be reduced. Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain have all proposed to cap greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Several European nations already have mandatory cap-and-trade regulations.

Opponents to climate change proposals say the rules have hurt their economies with not much environmental change to show from it.

White House press secretary Dana Perino acknowledged Monday that the administration was working on new climate change proposals, but said no decision had been made. "We're having a very robust discussion," said Perino at a White House briefing. "There's a basket of things that we're dealing with."

I never thought I'd see the day. Hallelujah.