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Congressional Watch, April 2010 Edition

Congressional Watch is a monthly e-newsletter of Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, letting you know about the votes and actions of Montana's Congressional Delegation - Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester, and Congressman Denny Rehberg - affecting energy and other conservation issues.

 

COMING UP

A bipartisan trio of senators is moving forward with comprehensive climate change legislation, expected to be released in late April. That legislation has the greatest chance of Senate consideration this year. Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) shared an eight-page outline of their plan in mid-March. The bill plans to reduce emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and includes some proposals from the carbon tax/consumer rebate bill introduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). At the same time, Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) urged Majority Leader Henry Reid (D-NV) to have the Senate consider energy-only legislation that passed Bingaman's committee in 2010; that bill does not include a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

Senator Tester joined with 21 other moderate senators to call on the Senate to consider comprehensive climate change legislation this year. The letter called for legislation with a renewed focus on jobs and reduced dependence on foreign oil.

Meanwhile, many are continuing to fight to maintain the ability of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, both in the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman bill and in other efforts. See also MCVEF's February 2010 Congressional Watch. On January 12, Senator Baucus signed a letter along with other Democratic members of the Environment and Public Works Committee opposing a proposal by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to overturn the EPA's global warming endangerment finding. A month later, Baucus, who has reiterated his opposition to the Murkowski proposal, joined with Sen. Jay Rockefeller and other senators in signing a letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson expressing concerns about the potential regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act and asking her to respond to a number of questions about how such regulations might impacts jobs and the economy. Rockefeller subsequently introduced legislation to suspend potential EPA regulation of greenhouse gases from stationary sources for two years.

 

TAKE ACTION:

Senators Baucus and Tester need to hear from you. Today!

Let them know that you want strong, comprehensive climate change legislation this year - legislation that will enhance our national security, create millions of American jobs, and make the planet healthier.

Ask them to continue to oppose any attempts to weaken EPA's responsibilities under the Clean Air Act.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW ARE TO CALL SENS. BAUCUS AND TESTER, AND WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR - AND COPY IT TO SENATOR BAUCUS and SENATOR TESTER.

The message is simple:

  • We need leadership to pass comprehensive climate change legislation now that will enhance our national security, create millions of American jobs, and make the planet healthier.
    • America's dependence on foreign oil hurts our economy, helps our enemies, and puts our security at risk.
    • Montana households would benefit from investments in clean energy with expanded job opportunities, rising wages, and reduced home heating and utility costs.
    • Carbon pollution is costing more each year in damage from droughts, spread of insect-borne diseases, and more intense weather events like fires, hurricanes and storms.
  • Oppose any attempts to weaken EPA's responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. EPA's scientifically-sound finding that greenhouse gas pollutants are harmful to public health, should stand.

Here are some tips to help you write an effective letter and help get it published.

Every day Congress fails to act, millions of tons of pollution are pumped into the air, millions of dollars are spent on imported oil, and other nations create the clean energy jobs that we need right now here in America.

 

ACTIONS AND OPINIONS

Huffingtonpost.com - Maggie Fox, Alliance for Climate Protection: It's Time to Lead the Clean Energy Revolution (March 31, 2010)

All of us who care about solving the climate crisis know we can't stop working until we achieve a binding international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas pollution while implementing comprehensive policies here at home. Now that the dust from the summit in Copenhagen has settled, important new research has emerged. It will help us put this unprecedented gathering of world leaders into perspective. Even in the absence of a treaty, there has been an explosion of new policies and initiatives around the world to invest in clean energy, confront global warming, and drive economic growth. As the U.S. Senate comes closer to action this year, it is clearer than ever that America needs to join this clean energy race without delay. More...

Sen. MAX BAUCUS on selling emission allowances, his role in considering climate change legislation, and his sponsorship of the Clean Energy Partnership Act:

..."There is no one-size-fits-all model for legislation to fight climate change, including the way emissions allowances are sold. I look forward to reviewing all of our options carefully to find the most efficient, effective and transparent system," said Baucus... More...

"I just want to see the bill when it's written," said Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. "I'd be foolhardy to get more specific."

  • Groups thank Sen. Baucus and others for sponsoring the Clean Energy Partnerships Act

Blue Climate Solutions: Coalition Thank You Letters (March 2, 2010)

An international coalition today thanked the nine U.S. Senators who sponsored the Clean Energy Partnerships Act, for advancing marine conservation as part of the solution to climate change. The Act is focused on mitigating climate change and making the transition to a clean energy economy, through offsetting greenhouse gas emissions... The Clean Energy Partnerships Act was introduced by Senator Debbie Ann Stabenow (MI), and co-sponsored by Max Baucus (MT)...More...

Sen. JON TESTER on clean energy programs funded under the stimulus bill:

Politico: Democrats take agency to task on clean-energy plan (March 4, 2010)

Senate Democrats are calling for a suspension of a clean-energy program that has sent more than $1 billion in stimulus funds to foreign-owned companies. Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jon Tester of Montana announced Wednesday a new initiative to require the "Buy America" provision of the stimulus to be applied to all programs under the jurisdiction of the legislation, not just the government ones.

From the WHITE HOUSE - expanding offshore oil drilling and higher fuel standards

President Obama announced his plan to abandon a decades-long prohibition against offshore oil drilling along much of the East Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

"In sharp contrast with the administration's ongoing commitment and leadership on clean energy, today's announcement is highly disappointing. As the president himself has said on numerous occasions, the nation that leads in the creation of a clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st century's global economy. Yet opening our coastlines for additional offshore drilling will continue the failed energy policies of the past and do nothing to create the new clean energy jobs of the future. We urge President Obama to continue working with the Senate to pass a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill that truly makes American more energy independent by building a clean energy economy and curbing harmful carbon pollution."

EPA issues new emission standards.

Drivers will have to pay more for cars and trucks, but they'll save at the pump under tough new federal rules aimed at boosting mileage, cutting emissions and hastening the next generation of fuel-stingy hybrids and electric cars. The new standards, announced Thursday, call for a 35.5 miles-per-gallon average within six years, up nearly 10 mpg from now. More...

"We applaud President Obama's historic steps forward to increase fuel efficiency and curb dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. This action represents an essential step toward meeting the president's goals of transforming our nation's energy policies, rebuilding the struggling economy and protecting the planet for future generations. The new standards will increase the strength and competitiveness of America's automakers, save consumers billions in gas money and significantly reduce the amount of pollution our country emits. We now look to the Senate to build upon this important step by passing comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation that will create jobs, make America more energy independent and reduce harmful carbon pollution."

VIDEO: Rachel Maddow "Climate Change Denial brought to you by Koch" (March 31, 2010)

Last November, we posted on the MCVEF energy web site a piece ("Just a Bunch of Hot Air") about Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a right-wing organizer of tea party protests which made some appearances in Montana last summer, including a hot air balloon tour in Billings in June and a bus tour through Bozeman in August to lobby against clean energy legislation. We noted information about AFP provided by DeSmogBlog, including the funding connection between AFP and Koch Industries, the largest privately-owned energy company in the country. This March 31 segment on Rachel Maddow's television show, Maddow interviews DeSmog's cofounder, Jim Hoggan is about Koch Industries' funding of climate change denial groups masquerading as grassroots.

PUBLIC POLL: VoteVets.org: New Poll of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Finds Overwhelming Support For Clean Energy Climate Legislation (April 6, 2010)

A compelling new poll of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans finds that 73 percent of them support Clean Energy Climate Change legislation in Congress, 79 percent believe ending our dependence on foreign oil is important to national security, and 67 percent support the argument that such legislation will help their own economic prospects. More...

 

OTHER VOTES AND ACTIONS OF INTEREST

Upper Flathead protection

Montana's U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester introduced federal legislation to protect the Upper Flathead Valley. The legislation is in conjunction with similar measures in British Columbia. The joint effort will prevent new mining, oil and gas development and coalbed gas extraction on either side of the border. This bill puts a moratorium on future leases on federal lands in the North Fork of the Flathead Drainage, which borders Glacier National Park.

In a two-page bill with simple language, Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus last week introduced legislation that would withdraw federally-owned North Fork lands from mining and geothermal leasing. More...

Hunting access program

After repeated pushes by Sen. Baucus on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to expedite the rule-making to implement the Open Fields Program, President Obama's recently released budget request includes full funding for Open Fields; funding is expected to be released this year. Open Fields is a new hunting access program, passed as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, and involves $50 million in funding for distribution to volunteer state hunting access programs, such as Montana's Block Management Program.

Select Montana opinion pieces on the need for a clean energy economy February-March 2010:

 

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