WASHINGTON  – The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee says farmers can support a proposed Democratic bill to limit greenhouse gases and combat global warming.

Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota urged support Wednesday for the climate bill after a series of concessions aimed at easing the impact higher energy costs will have on farmers and rural areas of the country.

Peterson said the changes made the massive bill something “that can work with agriculture.”

A vote on the bill could come on Friday. Republicans say it will lead to soaring energy costs. Peterson said farmers will be able to mitigate higher energy prices by selling pollution “offsets” earned by capturing carbon dioxide.

MEBANE, N.C. – Former North Carolina Gov. Bob Scott’s funeral is being held near his family farm in Alamance County and a delegation of former governors will attend.

The 79-year-old Scott died Friday after a period of declining health. The funeral is scheduled Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Hawfields Presbyterian Church.

Gov. Beverly Perdue will lead a delegation of former governors: Mike Easley, Jim Hunt and Jim Holshouser.

Scott served as governor from 1969 to 1973 and was state community college system president from 1983 to 1994. He was the son of a former governor and U.S. senator.

During his administration, Scott helped push through the first retail tax on cigarettes at a time when tobacco was still king in North Carolina. The tax helped finance the first public kindergartens in the state.