Climate bill looms large as Pelosi comes to Minn.

Nancy Pelosi will trek to Minnesota tomorrow to hold a high dollar fundraiser for Reps. Ketih Ellison (D-Minn.) and Tim Walz (D). But while she’s in the state, she might want to sit down with another Minnesota Democrat who’s threatening to derail Pelosi’s highest legislative priority.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, says he has corralled 45 Democratic votes against the bill if significant changes aren’t made. His committee will get a chance to markup the legislation in coming weeks but lacks the jurisdiction to modify many of the most contentious oprtions of the bill.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is seizing on Peterson’s doubts about the bill the blast Walz and Ellison.

“It’s bad enough that Tim Walz and Keith Ellison continue to vote in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi’s reckless agenda, but it’s even worse that they are accepting her campaign cash while she openly pushes a bill that will raise energy costs and devastate Minnesota communities and farms,’ said Ken Spain, NRCC Communications Director.

Pelosi has given Peterson (as well as Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel) until June 19 to modify the legislation or risk losing the chance altogether.