Despite skepticism, even in the environmental community, about the wisdom of the cap-and-trade system as a method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon tax has never found much favor with Congress.

This is partly because of the T-word, which remains politically incendiary even after the devastating deficits launched by the Bush tax cuts. But the idea is perceived as a dead letter with industry, even more so than the unavoidably expensive cap-and-trade concept. Just listen to Rex Tillerson, the CEO of Exxon, speaking at a conference last weekend:

A carbon tax is also the most efficient means of reflecting the cost of carbon in all economic decisions -- from investments made by companies to fuel their requirements, to the product choices made by consumers.

Wait, what?! Exxon's CEO would prefer a carbon tax? This is undoubtedly a bit of mojo to muddy the waters as a climate change bill begins moving through Congress. But just the same, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) is at the vanguard of the movement this year, dropping a new carbon tax bill today.

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Since Josh asked yesterday about the congressional constituency for including environmentally sustainable, forward-thinking proposals in the stimulus bill, I've been hunting around for it. And wouldn't you know it -- the Bold Action Caucus had its first meeting yesterday.

Okay, that's not its real name. The working title of the new congressional group convened by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY) is the Sustainable Energy & Environment Caucus, and their organizational event drew between 30 and 35 members.

The group has set out its general guiding principles, an Inslee spokeswoman told me. Asked about specific proposals that the new caucus might be pushing for inclusion in the stimulus bill, she said that question is on the agenda. "Clearly the stimulus is something to consider, but right now they're in the organizational stages."

This move has been in the works for a while, but it just became official: Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a dedicated advocate for strong climate change legislation, just took over the key House subcommittee on the energy and environment from Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), a very nice man also joined at the hip with the coal industry.

This clears the way for Markey to join the new House energy and commerce panel chairman, Henry Waxman, in making a full-court press for carbon emissions caps this year. Sweet.