(For other news from the Reuters Washington Summit, click on http://www.reuters.com/summit/Washington10?pid=500)
WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Comprehensive U.S. climate change legislation is dead for at least the next two years, especially if Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2011, a leading Democrat said on Wednesday.
"I don't see a comprehensive bill going anywhere in the next two years," Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman told the Reuters Washington Summit.
Given that Republicans, who mostly oppose climate change legislation that mandates reductions in greenhouse gases, are likely to gain congressional seats in the Nov. 2 elections, Bingaman added, "I'd be surprised if that kind of a comprehensive climate and energy bill could pass both houses of Congress in the next Congress, since they've been unable to pass in this Congress" with big Democratic majorities. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
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