Top Obama administration officials made their case for aggressive action on climate change, urging Congress to pass the "cap and trade" bill.

It's the first of three Senate hearings on a bill that would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent.

Paul Cicio, president of the Industrial Energy Consumers of America, says the bill could send the economy back into a tailspin. Click play for his comments.

Democrats say the bill will raise energy prices, but that it will also create jobs.

The climate bill is similar to one that has already passed in the House.

It would cap greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and industrial facilities.

Still, Republicans say the so-called cap-and-trade approach is a massive energy tax.