<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the South Dakota legislature passed a resolution<\/a> telling public schools to teach “balance” about the “prejudiced<\/a>” science of climate change by a vote of 37-33. Earlier language that ascribed “astrological<\/a>” influences to global warming was stripped from the final version.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This act of conspiracy-driven ideology is hardly alone—a Wonk Room KENTUCKY<\/strong>: “WHEREAS, a recent disclosure of <\/p>\n MARYLAND<\/strong>: “WHEREAS, Email and other communications between <\/p>\n OKLAHOMA<\/strong>: “WHEREAS, intense public scrutiny has revealed how <\/p>\n UTAH<\/strong>: “WHEREAS, emails and other communications between Every resolution makes the false claim<\/a> that protecting citizens from hazardous climate pollution would hurt the economy, instead of recognizing the potential of a green recovery<\/a>. Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Alaska lawmakers talk about being “dependent” on the coal and oil industries<\/a> whose lobbyists are fighting climate action. Several of the <\/p>\n The most legally bizarre resolution is Arizona state senator Sylvia Allen’s (R-Ariz.) “tenther<\/a>” <\/p>\n These efforts to overturn the Clean Air Act and replace science with conspiracy theories are being supported by the American Legislative Exchange Council<\/a> (ALEC), a national organization that brings conservative state lawmakers together with industry lobbyists. ALEC promotes a resolution opposing the endangerment finding<\/a> drafted by its Natural Resources Task Force<\/a>, States With Resolutions Opposing Greenhouse Endangerment Finding<\/p>\n State Bill Sponsor Status Notes<\/p>\n AK AL AZ FL GA IL KS KY MD MO OK UT VA WA WV <\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Murkowski wants to save Alaska by destroying it<\/a><\/p>\n Stop the Attacks on the Clean Air Act<\/a><\/p>\n British scientist in climate controversy admits emails were ‘awful’<\/a><\/p>\n
investigation has found at least 15 state legislatures attempting
to prevent limits on greenhouse gas pollution. The states of Alabama
and Utah<\/a> have already adopted resolutions calling for the overturn of the Environmental Protection Agency’s global warming endangerment finding<\/a>, with legislators in 13 more states in tow. Several of these “Dirty Air Act<\/a>” resolutions argue that the overwhelming scientific consensus<\/a> on the threat of man-made global warming is actually a conspiracy:<\/p>\n
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 … “<\/p>\n
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 … “<\/p>\n
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 … “<\/p>\n
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 … “<\/p>\n
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<\/a>‘s (R-Alaska) effort to rewrite the Clean Air Act (S.J.Res. 26<\/a>), and Alabama’s resolution calls for the passage of Rep. Earl Pomeroy’s (D-N.D.) similar effort (H.R. 4396<\/a>).<\/p>\n
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<\/a>.
The other Arizona resolution, along with the Kentucky, Virginia, and
Washington resolutions, would attempt to block state enforcement of
global warming rules.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> will feature Exxon Mobil-backed global warming denier Paul Driessen<\/a>, the author of Eco-Imperialism: Green Power, Black Death.<\/p>\n
HJR 49<\/a>
Stoltze (R)
Pending
Supports Murkowski<\/p>\n
HJR 218<\/a>
Gipson (R)
Enacted
Supports Pomeroy<\/p>\n
HB 2442<\/a>
SCR 1050<\/a>
Burges (R)
Allen (R)
Pending
Blocks state enforcement
Tenther resolution<\/p>\n
H 1535<\/a>
Adams (R)
Pending
Opposes Waxman-Markey<\/p>\n
HR 1357<\/a>
SR 958<\/a>
Stephens (R)
Pearson (R)
Pending
Supports overturn<\/p>\n
HR 961<\/a>
SR 666<\/a>
Phelps (D)
Forby (D)
Pending
Opposes Waxman-Markey<\/p>\n
SR 1809<\/a>
Natural Resources
Committee
Pending
Opposes “administrative fiat” by EPA<\/p>\n
HJR 20<\/a>
Fischer (R)
Pending
Cites hacked emails to block state enforcement<\/p>\n
HJR 13<\/a>
Jenkins (R)
Pending
Cites “climate change conspiracy” to oppose EPA<\/p>\n
HCR 46<\/a>
HCR 59<\/a>
Funderburk (R)
Brown (R)
Pending
Opposes Waxman-Markey, EPA<\/p>\n
SCR 41<\/a>
Lamb (R)
Adopted by Senate
Cites “unsettled” science to support overturn<\/p>\n
HJR 12<\/a>
Gibson K (R)
Adopted
Cites “Climategate” to support EPA withdrawal<\/p>\n
HB1357<\/a>
Morefield (R)
Pending
“Carbon dioxide shall not be considered air pollution”<\/p>\n
S 6477<\/a>
Stevens (R)
Pending
Blocks state enforcement<\/p>\n
HCR 34<\/a>
Shott (R)
Pending
Cites “vigorous, legitimate, and substantive” scientific debate to support Murkowski<\/p>\n
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