On the menu: a discussion of climate change action in Congress and at Copenhagen. Brown, who is the leader of a group of Midwestern Democrats who say they will not vote for a Senate climate bill unless it includes an fee on imported goods from countries that don't regulate carbon emissions, said he laid out his views to Clinton. Although other countries object to the idea of U.S. climate legislation with a carbon tariff - and some even speculate that it could spark a trade war - lawmakers such as Brown are betting that those countries would view the tariff as a lesser evil than no climate legislation at all. State Department negotiators have made clear that during the Copenhagen talks, they don't want to promise other countries more than what Congress will deliver.

Brown said that the consensus in Congress is that it won't pass a bill without the carbon tariff. "Almost everybody on our side agrees to it. The Chinese don't like it of course. But there seems to be general consensus. Certainly on the legislative side - and we write the law, the White House doesn't - is building consensus around manufacturing. Climate change [legislation] doesn't work if companies leave Akron, Ohio, to go to Wu Han. With weaker laws we lose jobs and we increase emissions. I think there is growing consensus among senators and house members that the tariff, that the border adjustment is necessary. We saw that in the House bill. In my conversation with others, they know they need it to get our vote, but they understand that it's also the best policy."

Brown said Clinton did not weigh in on the issue one way or another - at least verbally. "She did not speak out against it. She kind of nodded," he said.

Brown said he hopes to attend the Copenhagen talks next week, although he could cancel his trip if health care negotiations are still under way.