The push for climate legislation on Capitol Hill showed signs of life this week, as President Obama and three senators drafting legislation held meetings to move the stalled political process forward.

On Tuesday, President Obama, four of his Cabinet members and White House energy adviser Carol Browner met with a bipartisan group of 14 senators, including several who remain undecided on a climate bill. Obama asked the senators to pass comprehensive legislation this year that includes a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

Sen. John Kerry has framed the legislation as a jobs, rather than a climate, bill.Also present at that meeting were three senators who have been busy for weeks drafting a compromise bill: John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). The three met this week with energy and other business leaders to drum up support for their plan. Their bill, which could be completed by spring, is intended to attract centrist support while still lowering emissions overall.

"What we are talking about is a jobs bill. It is not a climate bill. It is a jobs bill, and it is a clean air bill. It is a national security, energy independence bill," said Senator Kerry.

 The plan is deficit-neutral, would place an overall cap on power plant emissions, may subject motor fuel to a carbon tax, exempt industrial facilities from a cap on emissions for several years before being phased in and charge oil refiners a fee based on the carbon content of their fuels instead of a cap.

So far, influential business groups and utilities seem less hostile toward the new plan, but remain unconvinced until the legislation has been completely drafted.