President George W. Bush speaks about the benefits of his 2003 tax relief act in Washington June 2, 2008. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would veto climate change legislation to be considered by the U.S. Senate this week if it passes Congress in its current form, the White House said on Monday.

“As the legislation is drafted, if it were to pass in its current form, the president would veto it,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters. But she added, “It’s very unlikely to pass the Senate anyway.”

The legislation the Senate will debate, which is not expected to become law this year ahead of the presidential election in November, could cut total U.S. global warming emissions by 66 percent by 2050, according to a summary of the measure.