It's sad, but it's also not a surprise: Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are boycotting the mark-up of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. We released our thoughts on what we think the Republicans are doing instead of taking part in the push to bring a clean energy future to the U.S.:

The Sierra Club is distressed that these Senators are unwilling to sit down and work on this important plan for less pollution, more jobs and greater security.

The Sierra Club openly wondered what these Senators might be doing that is more important than finishing work on this historic bill and so suggested these Top Ten Possible Excuses for not showing up for work on the Clean Energy Jobs bill:

10. They are hiding in the attic with balloon boy.
9. They are allergic to wind.
8. They had to prep for a conference denying climate science.
7. They got lost hiking the Appalachian Trail.
6. They were swimming, Scrooge McDuck-style, through swimming pools filled with Big Oil and Coal money.
5. They had choir practice for the Chorus of No’s.
4. Rush told them not to go.
3. They had to hold up some more judicial nominees.
2. They actually oppose a Clean Energy Jobs bill that would put America back in charge of its economic and energy future.
1. They had a pre-existing condition.

We even created a place where you can list their possible excuses as well - let us know what you think the Republicans are doing!

And if you want to do more work than the Republicans are doing, you can watch the mark-up in the committee via CSPAN online.