Sounds like some ACORNs to me.

"The American people will see tax dollars go to so-called community development organizations like ACORN, to teach low-income residents how to live in accord with the worldview of the Environmental Left," scowled a news release yesterday from Congressional critics of the Cap and Trade bill.

Sure enough, there are 19 mentions of the term "community development" in the bill, but nothing specific about ACORN.

Sec. 264 of the bill is on "Low Income Community Energy Efficiency Program," which says the feds will dole out grant money to community development organizations "to provide financing to businesses and projects that improve energy efficiency" for low-income residents.

On page 561, the bill authorizes $50 million per year for six fiscal years, so that's $300 million in all for these kind of programs.

"I just want to know if ACORN would qualify for these grants," said House GOP Leader John Boehner, who was the only Republican to note the ACORN issue during debate on the House floor.

One note here - part of this provision was included in the text of the original Cap and Trade bill that was reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee back on June 5, so everyone had three weeks before the debate began to find this.

As for other stuff in the Cap and Trade bill, I stumbled on one thing called the "National Climate Service Office," which basically seems to be something like the National Weather Service, except that it would predict changes in climate rather than daily changes in weather.

Page 1270 says there would be six "Regional Climate Centers," which would be operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Those centers would "(i) collect and exchange data and information needed to characterize, understand, and forecast regional and local weather and climate; (ii) facilitate collection and exchange of data and information between the States and Federal Government on weather and climate in conjunction with the National Climatic Data Center; (iii) support research and observations; (iv) obtain input on stakeholder needs for weather and climate information and products; and (v) support State and local adaptation and response planning."

There would also be a "Climate Service Advisory Committee," created, which would provide "advice" on everything from "climate service product development" to "computation and modeling needs, research needs, and other resources needed to develop, distribute, and ensure the utility of climate data products and services."

The advisory committee would have "at least 25 members." They won't be paid, but "may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence," according to the bill.

Then on page 1280 it says cryptically, "Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Climate Service Advisory Committee," and that "The National Climate Program Act (15 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) is repealed."

Sounds like there's more work to do on this one. Maybe you can figure it out for me and everyone else.