It’s been over 20 years now since the threat of global warming was first debated in Congress. During that time, the threat has transformed into a reality, as the effects of global warming cost human lives and human wealth. Scientists have, through rigorous research and review, established thorough, multiple lines of evidence to establish that global warming is due in significant part to human activities, and that it is part of a larger problem of general climate change. All along Congress has debated, and debated, and debated, and not taken any action to deal with the growing problem.
This week, the evidence that global warming is increasingly serious was extended yet again, with the finding that the first decade of this century was the hottest decade ever recorded. So, what did Congress do? Nothing.
Well, that’s not quite fair. One group in Congress did take action. They complained that there hasn’t been enough debate about climate change in Congress. Over two decades of debate hasn’t been enough for them, apparently.
This group was led by Lisa Murkowski, Republican senator from Alaska. Murkowski introduced a resolution of disapproval criticizing the EPA’s decision to regulate greenhouse gases as pollution under the authority of the Clean Air Act.
39 members of the U.S. Senate stood with Murkowski in opposition to responsible action to cope with climate change. These senators were not all Republicans like Murkowski, however. The following Senate Democrats also put themselves on the record as opponents of efforts to reduce climate change:
- Mary Landrieu
- Blanche Lincoln
- Ben Nelson
History will be the ultimate judge of whether these Democratic senators did the right thing by trying to interfere with regulation of greenhouse gases. At present, scientific evidence is the best tool we have to judge their political position. Given what we know now, their position looks extremely foolish.
i don’t know if you picked up this weeks Rolling Stone, titled YOU IDIOTS and specifically mentions the 17 people (“polluters and deniers”) who are ruining the planet for everyone else, namely:
Warren Buffett, Rupert Murdoch, Jack Gerard (Pres., Am. Petroleum), Rex Tillerson (CEO, ExxonMobil), Sen. Mary Landrieu (Dem., Louisiana), Marc Morano (Founder, Climate Depot), Sen. James Inhofe (Rep., Oklahoma), Dick Gephardt (CEO, Gephardt Group), David Ratcliffe (CEO, Southern Co.), George Will (Commentator, ABC), Tom Donohue (Pres., U.S. Chamber of Commerce), Don Blankenship (CEO, Massey Energy), Fred Singer (ret. physicist, U. of Va.), Sen. John McCain, Rep. Joe Barton (Rep., Texas), David and Charles Koch (CEO & Exec. VP, Koch Industries)
Oh, and who is gutting the safety net while we’re being distracted:
http://www.correntewire.com/another_secret_deal_obama_gutting_social_security_and_medicare_no_congressional_hearings_after_mid_t
Screw the climate controls, food and a decent living standard have crippled the American Public. We need jopbs not some tree hugging liberal organization like the EPA stiffling American Businesses and American workers.
With unrealistic climate enand enviormental laws businesses have been forced to go overseas
If we sell it here,lets make it here. We need jobs and a return of the working class in America
Robert, could you name one piece of legislation to fight climate change that’s actually been passed by Congress, and explain how that particular law is forcing businesses to go overseas?
See, Robert, I don’t believe that there’s been one single piece of substantive climate legislation ever passed by Congress. Can you prove me wrong on that?
Green Man, you’re wrong. There’s the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments passed by Congress to force climate change by regulating ChloroFluoroCarbons. Sure, we may still have a stratospheric Ozone layer as a result… but now nobody on the continent can shave or use hair spray. We all have to take trips to unregulated Liechtenstein in order to take care of our unsightly stubble.