by Brad Johnson
Cross-posted from the Wonk Room.
Yesterday, the South Dakota legislature passed a resolution telling public schools to teach “balance” about the “prejudiced” science of climate change by a vote of 37-33. Earlier language that ascribed “astrological” influences to global warming was stripped from the final version.
This act of conspiracy-driven ideology is hardly alone—a Wonk Room
investigation has found at least 15 state legislatures attempting
to prevent limits on greenhouse gas pollution. The states of Alabama
and Utah have already adopted resolutions calling for the overturn of the Environmental Protection Agency’s global warming endangerment finding, with legislators in 13 more states in tow. Several of these “Dirty Air Act” resolutions argue that the overwhelming scientific consensus on the threat of man-made global warming is actually a conspiracy:
KENTUCKY: “WHEREAS, a recent disclosure of
communications among scientists associated with the Climate Research
Unit of the University of East Anglia has cast serious doubt upon the
scientific data that have purportedly supported the finding that
man-made carbon dioxide has been a material cause of global warming or
global climate change … “
MARYLAND: “WHEREAS, Email and other communications between
climate researchers around the globe discovered as part of the recent
“climate-gate” controversy indicate that there is a well-organized and
ongoing effort to manipulate global temperature data and incorporate
tricks to substantiate the theory of climate change … “
OKLAHOMA: “WHEREAS, intense public scrutiny has revealed how
unsettled the science is on climate change and the unwillingness of
many of the world’s climatologists to share data or even entertain
opposing viewpoints on the subject … “
UTAH: “WHEREAS, emails and other communications between
climate researchers around the globe, referred to as ‘Climategate,’
indicate a well organized and ongoing effort to manipulate global
temperature data in order to produce a global warming outcome … “
Every resolution makes the false claim that protecting citizens from hazardous climate pollution would hurt the economy, instead of recognizing the potential of a green recovery. Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Alaska lawmakers talk about being “dependent” on the coal and oil industries whose lobbyists are fighting climate action. Several of the
resolutions, drafted early last year, call on Congress to reject the
Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed the
House of Representatives in June but has languished in the Senate. The
Alaska and West Virginia resolutions support Sen. Lisa Murkowski‘s (R-Alaska) effort to rewrite the Clean Air Act (S.J.Res. 26), and Alabama’s resolution calls for the passage of Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s (D-N.D.) similar effort (H.R. 4396).
The most legally bizarre resolution is Arizona state senator Sylvia Allen’s (R-Ariz.) “tenther”
argument that the U.S. Congress does not have the Constitutional
authority to regulate greenhouse gas pollution. Allen also believes the
Earth is 6000 years old.
The other Arizona resolution, along with the Kentucky, Virginia, and
Washington resolutions, would attempt to block state enforcement of
global warming rules.
These efforts to overturn the Clean Air Act and replace science with conspiracy theories are being supported by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a national organization that brings conservative state lawmakers together with industry lobbyists. ALEC promotes a resolution opposing the endangerment finding drafted by its Natural Resources Task Force,
which includes over 120 lawmakers from around the nation and a
similarly sized group of corporate representatives. Although ALEC does
not have an official position on the validity of climate science, the
organization is “actively involved in helping people get together and
share ideas,” a representative told the Wonk Room. For example, the spring ALEC task force meeting will feature Exxon Mobil-backed global warming denier Paul Driessen, the author of Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death.
States With Resolutions Opposing Greenhouse Endangerment Finding
State Bill Sponsor Status Notes
AK
HJR 49
Stoltze (R)
Pending
Supports Murkowski
AL
HJR 218
Gipson (R)
Enacted
Supports Pomeroy
AZ
HB 2442
SCR 1050
Burges (R)
Allen (R)
Pending
Blocks state enforcement
Tenther resolution
FL
H 1535
Adams (R)
Pending
Opposes Waxman-Markey
GA
HR 1357
SR 958
Stephens (R)
Pearson (R)
Pending
Supports overturn
IL
HR 961
SR 666
Phelps (D)
Forby (D)
Pending
Opposes Waxman-Markey
KS
SR 1809
Natural Resources
Committee
Pending
Opposes “administrative fiat” by EPA
KY
HJR 20
Fischer (R)
Pending
Cites hacked emails to block state enforcement
MD
HJR 13
Jenkins (R)
Pending
Cites “climate change conspiracy” to oppose EPA
MO
HCR 46
HCR 59
Funderburk (R)
Brown (R)
Pending
Opposes Waxman-Markey, EPA
OK
SCR 41
Lamb (R)
Adopted by Senate
Cites “unsettled” science to support overturn
UT
HJR 12
Gibson K (R)
Adopted
Cites “Climategate” to support EPA withdrawal
VA
HB1357
Morefield (R)
Pending
“Carbon dioxide shall not be considered air pollution”
WA
S 6477
Stevens (R)
Pending
Blocks state enforcement
WV
HCR 34
Shott (R)
Pending
Cites “vigorous, legitimate, and substantive” scientific debate to support Murkowski
Related Links:
Murkowski wants to save Alaska by destroying it
Stop the Attacks on the Clean Air Act
British scientist in climate controversy admits emails were ‘awful’
