The Democratic takeover of Congress means a welcome shift in environmental oversight.
“Our long national nightmare is close to being over,” said Philip Clapp, president of National Environmental Trust.
Take global warming. The former chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee was Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who dismissed global warming as a hoax and this week called a United Nations meeting on the subject a “brainwashing session.”
He’ll be replaced by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., a liberal who is one of her party’s top environmental advocates.
Likewise, the leadership of the House Resources Committee will go to Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., whose perspective is a complete turnaround from that of Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., a rancher who fought endangered-species protection and advocated opening public lands to oil and gas development.
Under Democrats, expect a repeal of oil industry subsidies, a renewed fight for higher fuel efficiency standards for autos, and some kind of legislation capping industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Maybe even an investigation into Dick Cheney’s secret energy task force.
President Bush might even be pressured into endorsing carbon caps. After all, he supported them as a candidate in 2000. That’s right — he was for them before he was against them.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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28 Comments
Randy, are you calling our President a flip-flopper?
California has been a leader in polution control for more than 50 years. Their standards, calling for reduced carbon emmisions by all companies producing same, can do nothing less than improve the air quality for the state.
That is something the feds need to do, but it will be difficult because of business hold on the beltway. I guess we will be finding out just how much things have changed. I’m betting there will be a lot of dissapointments on both sides of the isle.
California is lung-deep in pollution. Smog from the Bay Area now accumulates in the southern Central Valley. Yosemite Valley, one of the world’s most astonishing natural treasures, is polluted. They’re going to have to figure out something.
Regarding the new coal-fired power plants proposed to be built in western Kansas somewhere near Garden City — would the improved California environmental rules allow this?
Looks like advantages will go to other states. Kansas will receive the environmental disadvantages including air pollution and drawing down more of our remaining Ogallala underground water aquifer.
I forsee a day when parched Kansans go to Dodge City’s Longbranch Saloon to order — a round of water!
Where’s Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Doc Holliday now that we really need them here in Kansas?
Carbon caps sound good, but really; do they do anything but shift the “burden” of carbon emissions, if the caps are a part of a trading system as I have heard proposed, to “cleaner” states? Why not a reduction in total allowable carbon emissions? I think this would do more good.
Coal fired power plants produce 40% of the mercury emissions in the country. Mercury causes a host of ill effects ranging from birth defects to brain damage. Kansas could adopt stricter restrictions than the EPA which many states have. Kansas probably has lower standards when it comes to regulations that’s why the power companies will build here and ship the power elsewhere while leaving us the pollution for the taxpayers to deal with. It’s kinda like Mexico where American manufacturers go to pollute and destroy the environment so they can save a few nickels.
Careful Doug. You seem to be a faithful democrat. You know, opposing Sunflower’s new plant is gonna get you in trouble with governor leadership.
Do you really want to cross her, steve miller, steve irsik, or her little dog parkinson?
Careful buddy…
hee hee hee hee hee
“That’s right — he was for them before he was against them.”
Dayum Randy, that is why the wingnuts hate you and why thinking people love you.
You GO Randy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So… how is governor leadership and the whole hee haw democratic gang in topeka gonna reconcile their very public votes on water issues with the national democrats’ love of the environment?
When their dirty business in helping hays, russell and the ethanol industry rape the Smoky Basin come to light, do you think that might diminish governor leadership’s star on the national level?
Do they want someone with THOSE positions on record on the national ticket.
Stay tuned. This could get interesting. I’m poppin’ the organic popcorn right now…..
Typical leftists, you ignore the root cause of environmental degradation and that is overpopulation. Massive third world immigration is the leading cause of gridlock, pollution, and the increasing strain on our resources.
Viva La Revolucion Blanco!!
Santiago, do you see ANY issue without viewing it through the racist fog that swirls around in your head?
You must be a real joy at a party.
Ian, it’s the leftists who are in favor of contraception and access to reproductive options. Perhaps you were confusing us with the Pope, Operation Rescue, and Islamic fundamentalists who want to ban contraception and breed ourselves into extinction.
Confusion is a common symptom when a fog is swirling around in your head.
Hey WS,
Why is it that everytime someone mentions immigration, someone like you wants to yell… racism!
First off, get the definition, you will see that talking about overpopulation and immigration has nothing to do with racism. In fact, using a racial slur is not even racism, it is just name calling. Racism is per Websters… a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race2 : racial prejudice or discriminationDiscussing overpopulation or immigration isn’t even close. Get educated before spouting off!
Most of the important issues facing our country, including the environment, cannot be properly and effectively addressed until we get control over the artificial population growth occurring mostly due to illegal immigration.
DT you must be new.
Ian is in fact an unapologetic racist.
The dems being in charge of the environment is wonderful news. Now maybe we can begin to address our resource problems.
Well, DT, I guess I have nothing against Santiago other than he has called me a slow-witted Negro, a Jew bastard and has denied the Holocaust.
Other than that, I guess that he is a really nice guy.
Just a thought, DT, trying reading back through Santiago’s posts before criticizing me.
If you are a remotely compassionate individual, they will shock the hell out of you.
WSC- Even if Ian’s crap about you is true, you’ll still be way ahead of him!He’s last in line
I had my horns removed so no one can really tell that I have partial Jewish ancestry.
As long as I don’t drop my pants, no one can tell that I have African-American ancestry.
Go figure………
Ian is an obnoxious racist asshole. We all know this (well, most of us).
But, sorry folks, Doug’s response was the only really on-point one–and it happened to bitingly dead-on.
Doug was absolutely right.
Hey, Ian, let’s talk about the SSPX position on contraception, shall we? Your multiple inconstistences and hypocrisy aside, you claim to be loyal to their theology.
Who are YOU to lecture us about overpopulation?
That said, I will go further and say (don’t throw things). . .
He’s basically right.
Er, about overpopulation, that is.
Not third-world immigration.
One Earth, thank you.
Environmentalist are a major plague in this country.They fought to keep the government from improving the levees in Louisiana and we saw the the results. Tahank you environmentalists.
They shut the logging industry down in Washington to protec the spotted owl but it was later found they were being killed off by natural preditors. Thanks for putting people out of work.
I think what we need to do is send all the envirionmentalist to a single state. Then cut off all fuel supplies whether gasoline or electricity from outside of their state and then also they cannot burn coal or wood. The only electricity that they could have would be from water powered generators. If they want gasoline they have to refine it in there state.
The greatest threat for global warming is all the hot air that these people put out.
Ted – environmentalists did NOT prevent fixing the levees. The oil industry cut channels through them throughout the bayous. The Corps of Engineers diverted sediment that would have built up the marshes. The Corps also diverted water that would have recharged the aquifers; resulting in the lowering (subsidence) of the city. We scientists warned about this; you ignored our warnings.
The problem with predation of the owls is largely related to the destruction of their habitat.
Global climate change is real. Ask some scientists.
For a very general overview …
http://www.wunderground.com/education/education.asp
and follow the links.
Ted? You are a moron. Here is your dunce cap. Go sit in the corner.
Better yet?
Let’s reverse your idea. All you Earth burners move to one state. You can do anything you like there. No food will be imported from outside. You will eat what is produced in your new industrial utopia. No clean water will be shipped in. You will be relying on your neighbors not to pollute your supply. Those who own the land will decide what is done with it. It may be that your new state can make itself economically sustainable by serving as a disposal site for toxic wastes.
The resources of your new state? Have at ‘em! Live high and enjoy yourselves. But when the resources run out? Hey It was good while it lasted.
There is ONE proviso. Once you move to your new state and deplete its resources, contaminate it’s air, water and soil? In other words once you have done to your state what you and yours wish to do to the Earth? You DO NOT get to leave your state for another. You must stay and eat breathe see and live what you have made.
Dude? I’ll help ya pack!
J R,
I suggest Florida. A rising sea level would cause land loss. Maybe some Cat 5 hurricanes as a “bonus”?
Ted,
In addition to Ben’s points… structural failure of the floodwalls along the 17th Street and London Avenue Canals, plus the MRGO canal caused the flooding.
The enviros have zero connection to those — and the 2 projects they were involved with did NOT cause the flooding.
‘BLAMING ENVIRONMENTALISTS FOR KATRINA: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW!’http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2005-09-13a.asp
Spotted owls? The timber industry had already cut down 90% of the old growth forest — jobs would’ve ended soon anyway.
You should cross-check your “facts” about climate change being a hoax at http://illconsidered.blogspot.com/2006/03/guides-by-category.html
Ted? Do you know that higher efficiency, then biofuels, and H2 could easily eliminate the need for imported oil? http://www.oilendgame.com/
But you seem to prefer to maintain the status quo.
This one takes wayyyyy back in time
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/epa_lead_pollution
Keep this in mind as well:
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=13646
In regards to flooding during Katrina:
“Corps Told to Close Ship Channel Dubbed ‘Hurricane Superhighway’
December 06, 2006 — By Cain Burdeau, Associated PressNEW ORLEANS — A coalition of scientists, environmentalists and politicians on Tuesday told the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close a shipping channel that scientists say contributed to the devastating deluge of parts of eastern New Orleans, including the Lower Ninth Ward.
The Corps is expected to release a report next Wednesday to outline what should be done with the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, a channel built in the 1960s that has destroyed hundreds of square miles of wetlands. It was built as a shortcut to New Orleans and a way to kick-start the development of reclaimed swampland east of New Orleans that wound up drowned by Hurricane Katrina.
The coalition also issued a report, which said in part, “The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, known locally as Mister Go, was a bad idea when constructed and has become a worse one every year.”
The document, unambiguously called “Mister Go Must Go,” was handed out to members of Congress, who will have a say on what direction the Corps takes.
Roger Cawley, a Corps spokesman, said the agency would “keep a distance from what this group has said.” He declined to discuss what the Corps plans to present next week.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La., said there are indications that the Corps report will leave several options on the table. “I’m tired of them spending time to look at options, it’s time to act,” Melancon said.
The channel has caused widespread environmental degradation by eroding the surrounding wetlands and funneling the Gulf of Mexico’s salt water inland, killing stands of cypress forests.
In all, the report said the channel has caused about 922 square miles of damage to the wetlands southeast of New Orleans. The report was sponsored by Environmental Defense and other groups.
Scientists and residents say the channel acted as a conduit for Katrina’s storm surge, causing water to stack up and overwhelm levees ringing the low-lying neighborhoods that developed in the past century east of the French Quarter.
After Katrina the movement to close the MRGO has picked up and Louisiana’s politicians nearly unanimously say the channel poses a menace to New Orleans. The channel now routinely gets called a “hurricane superhighway.”
There are some opponents to closing the channel, most notably shipping companies and industries that rely on it to get deep-draft oceangoing vessels to their facilities.
Source: Associated Press