Is climate change policy still alive?

I had thought climate change legislation would be way on the back-burner at least until after the mid-term elections. After the bruising health care debate and Obama's movement on education reforms, I suspected, as did others, that the political capital needed to move another big policy had been depleted or diverted elsewhere. Now, however, Reuters is reporting that we may see a vote on climate change this summer. It sounds like the leadership is not ready to commit to passage before the mid-terms, particularly with Democrats facing a tough election cycle (Mid-terms are generally difficult for the party in the White House) and the economy still in recovery mode:

Once the senators formally sketch out their bill, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will decide the next steps in a year crowded with competing legislative priorities and congressional elections in November.

The bill could face stiff opposition from lawmakers in states with economies heavily dependent on oil and coal.

The proposed legislation would end state and regional carbon policy and preclude the U.S. EPA from regulating carbon under the Clean Air Act, according to Reuter's sources.