Cap and trade on the ropes

Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas dredged up a topic the White House's laser-like focus on health care reform has allowed to fall by the wayside - which may well be where she feels it belongs.

Lincoln, who will as of Wednesday will chair the Senate's agriculture committee, says the cap and trade proposal is a "heavy lift" for the Senate, and says her committee has a "tremendous amount of work" which may push the carbon-emissions plan to the back burner. Politico, which reported the news, also notes Lincoln is from a state heavy in agricultural interests that have come out against the legislation, including Tyson Foods.