Congressional Watch, August 2010 Edition
Congressional Watch, August 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.
Act now – urge our Congressional delegation to fight to solve the climate crisis before it’s too late!
Senate fails to act to reduce greenhouse gas pollution contributing to climate change
Following the U. S. Senate’s striking failure last month to consider comprehensive energy legislation controlling carbon pollution – and then its failure to consider oil spill liability legislation – much of the current focus on controlling carbon pollution is moving elsewhere. Clean energy advocates are looking to state and regional energy laws, state public utility commissions, defending EPA’s court-sanctioned authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, and national energy standards to help move America to a cleaner energy future. While some suggest that climate legislation could still occur after the fall elections, the final word may depend on the public outcry during the August recess, starting August 9 for the U.S. Senate, as well as the elections in November.
Yes, Montanans are disappointed at the Senate’s failure. But this is not the time to sit back!
The immediate fight continues over EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Proposals to limit or delay that critical authority are expected to come up next month in the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee, on which Sen. Tester sits. Urge Sen. Tester to oppose this amendment; see the letter from 21 Montana-based groups, including Montana Conservation Voters, Montana Audubon, Montana Environmental Information Center, Northern Plains Resource Council and others, urging Sen. Tester to oppose any amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that blocks or delays the ability of the EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) expects a vote in September on his proposal for a two-year delay in EPA rules to regulate emissions from coal-fired power plants and other stationary industrial facilities. Once again, we need your help to secure Sens. Baucus and Tester’s opposition to these efforts to limit EPA’s authority.
Big oil, gas and coal companies, joined by Montana’s electrical co-ops, want to limit the EPA’s authority to protect public health by enforcing the Clean Air Act which regulates dirty emissions. They say they would rather Congress enact a law to regulate greenhouse gases. The truth is they have not only failed to support any meaningful Congressional regulation of such pollutants, they have fought against them. They cannot have it both ways – no laws and no regulations – while we continue to pour polluting greenhouse gases into our environment.
Meanwhile, Rep. Rehberg voted once more for the interests of giant corporate oil companies like BP instead of for Montanans. He voted against a bill to boost safety standards for offshore oil drilling and against removing a federal cap on economic liability for oil spills (HR 3534). The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill, which passed 209-193, would reduce future deficits $5.3 billion over the 2011-2015 period.
CALL TO ACTION
Here’s what you can do:
Our Montana Congressional delegation will be home for summer recess August 9 through September 12 (the House recess has been delayed to consider a budget bill).
Let Sens. Baucus and Tester and Rep. Rehberg know:
- Congress’ failure to pass comprehensive climate legislation to reduce carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs in Montana and protect future generations is a great disappointment;
- You want them to protect EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas pollution; and
- You will continue to work to solve the climate change crisis in this Congress, at the state level, and through the EPA.
- Thank Sens. Baucus and Tester for voting against Sen. Murkowski’s proposal to strip the EPA of its authority to regulate the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, and ask them to continue to oppose any attempts to weaken EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
- Let Rep. Rehberg know you strongly disagree with his support for big oil companies over safer oil drilling and increased corporate financial responsibility for large oil spills like we have just witnessed in the Gulf.
The U.S. Senate failed Montanans.
First, the Senate decided to abandon any attempt to pass comprehensive climate change legislation in favor of a pared-down bill to address oil spill liability (See The Hill: Reid to advance limited oil spill and energy bill, delaying climate action).
LCV’s Gene Karpinski: “It's deeply disappointing that Big Oil, Dirty Coal and their allies in Congress continue to stand in the way of creating a clean energy economy that creates jobs, makes America more energy independent and protects the planet. The twin challenges of building a clean energy economy and addressing global warming are too important to fail. The fight to create new clean energy jobs and solve the climate crisis will continue -- in this Congress, in the states and at the EPA.”
Then, Senate leadership decided they had not yet garnered the votes necessary for even that pared down energy bill and delayed a floor vote until after the August recess. (See Politico: Senate Dems punt on spill bill and The Hill: E2 Wire: Reid abandons oil-spill, energy legislation until September).
“…Environmentalists slammed the [Senate] chamber for failing to act. “It’s shameful that more than 40 senators are such slaves to Big Oil that they want taxpayers — and not BP — to be liable for cleanup costs from this disaster and future blowouts,” said Daniel Weiss, director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund….” (Politico)
Groups from across the country express their disappointment in the Senate’s failure
MCV and 360 other organizations from across the country released a statement on the Senate’s failure to address clean energy.
“…There’s no doubt that big oil, big coal, their army of lobbyists and their partners in Congress are cheering the obstruction that blocked Senate action on clean energy and climate legislation. Their cheers are cheers for China taking the lead in clean
energy jobs, the Middle East getting more of our money, and America getting more pollution and fewer jobs...”
LCV’s Gene Karpinski on HuffingtonPost.com:
“We are angry and disappointed. The battle must and will continue -- but it is time to shift our focus. The U.S. Senate will not take up comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation prior to the August recess. Even more distressing, it's very unlikely the Senate will push for a comprehensive bill at all this year…
“For months, a broad and diverse coalition of Americans has called for immediate action on a clean energy and climate bill. More than three months into the worst industry-caused environmental catastrophe in our history, after the deadliest coal mining disaster in 40 years, and while sweating through the hottest first six months of any year on record, there's never been a more urgent time to move forward with a clean energy and climate policy…
“We will not give up and will keep the pressure on to act this year while senators are home in August. We must keep working at every level to transition our nation to a cleaner, more secure energy future. The fight to create new clean energy jobs and solve the climate crisis will continue…”
But you can act! Contact Sens. Baucus and Tester and Rep, Rehberg during the August recess. See CALL TO ACTION, above.
Help Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund meet its match!
The Cinnabar Foundation has given MCVEF a generous matching grant and we need your help to meet it. Support MCVEF’s efforts to protect our clean air, clear water and outdoor traditions – and to move our nation towards a clean energy economy. Give a generous gift to MCVEF today and it will be doubled. Don’t want to give online? Mail a gift to MCVEF at Box 853, Billings, MT 59103. All contributions are tax deductible.
