Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) may attempt to handcuff U.S. EPA's ability to regulate stationary sources of greenhouse gases with an amendment to the agency's annual spending bill.
Murkowski, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, may introduce an amendment to the fiscal 2010 Interior and environment appropriations bill that would allow EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions only from mobile sources, and prohibit the agency from regulating heat-trapping emissions from stationary sources like power plants and industrial facilities.
Environmentalists assailed the amendment, saying it would basically instruct EPA to ignore the law.
"This amendment suggests that if global warming pollution comes from a power plant, it is safe, but if it comes from a car, it is harmful," said David Moulton, director of climate policy and conservation funding at the Wilderness Society. "That is a preposterous distinction that cannot be supported in either law or fact."
Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch called the amendment "an outrageous assault on EPA's ability to interpret the Supreme Court decision."
I have often stayed somewhat neutral when it comes to Lisa "Daddy's little girl" Murkowsi, and even felt a little relief when I became convinced that Palin would not steal her Senate seat out from under her.
However being better than Palin is hardly the definition of being good. And it is now very clear that Murkowski will sell out the people of Alaska in favor of profits for the oil companies, just like dear old dad.
Attempting to prevent the EPA from following the law to protect rapidly melting sea ice is especially egregious considering the great harm we are witnessing right here in Alaska, not to mention the impact it is having in other parts of the northern hemisphere.
The facts are that climate change is real and it is way past time for Republicans to stop worrying about protecting their major campaign contributors and to start worrying more about their constituents and the state they claim to serve.
And if Senator Murkowski is too steeped in old fashioned political tradition to see that, then perhaps it is time to really make Alaskan history and have TWO Democratic Senators in Washington.
(H/T to Wit's End for the polar bear link.)
This is a little off topic, it is father daughter.
ReplyDeleteIs it sexist of the media to run stories of who and when John Edwards fathers children outside of marriage? Why do they want to know who he is fathering? What about the child when they put that in the tubes. It happens, men father illegitimate children. It is not unusual. Revisiting how we vet vice pres candidate is more important.
Edwards baby news is breaking.
Sarah Palin, John Edwards and the Way We Choose Our Vice Presidents
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lincoln-mitchell/sarah-palin-john-edwards_b_227195.html
It may seem unfair to compare John Edwards to Sarah Palin. However, they are both former vice presidential candidates with very little experience in government whose qualifications for high office have been brought into question due to their recent behavior and comments.
The vetting process for vice presidential candidates is clearly quite different than that for the people on the top of the ticket. Vice presidential candidates must face a series of, presumably, difficult interviews from the nominee's team and provide information on their background to the candidate, but that is about it. Not only is there no way of knowing whether or not the vice presidential nominee is being entirely forthcoming, but the vice presidential candidate does not have to face any test from voters or the media until she, or he, is already on the ticket.
Every few years we alter the way our presidential nominees are chosen due to the ample imperfections of the presidential nominating systems, but they way we choose our vice president's has remained largely the same for years. Palin, Edwards, and less amusingly, Cheney, are three good reasons why it would make sense to revisit this system.
You should write something about that scumbag John Edwards' illicit affair and love child.
ReplyDeleteMuch more juicier than your obsession with Palin.
Gryphen, you rock! Stay on it please - Murkowski's position is threatening to every living thing on our planet. The EPA must be allowed to do its job. People assume that we have these agencies to protect us but under the Bush administration the scientists were muzzled, reports were delayed and censored. Now it's time for them to act on the real science that is telling us our poisoned water and air are literally killing people and other species, and average temperatures rising from greenhouse gasses is an unfolding disaster that we must avert with strong and swift conversion to clean energy. The coal and oil industries are pouring huge amounts of money into campaigns to intimidate legislators and frighten the public - just like the insurance and big pharma are manipulating the debate about health care reform -but the fact is, transitioning to clean energy is a fantastic opportunity for economic growth and a sustainable future.
ReplyDeletethanks for your terrific blog, I always enjoy reading!
''However being better than Palin is hardly the definition of being good. ''
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing that line. Love it
Anon 9:14: John Edwards was a US Senator for 6 years.
ReplyDelete