Mar
8
Written by:
Jim Hansen
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Two weeks ago, a majority of senators on a committee refused to acknowledge the state has any responsibility to stop supporting genocide. This week, a majority of the entire Senate refused to acknowledge there is global warming, let alone that they should initiate a simple process to evaluate ways the state might take some responsibility to reduce greenhouse gases. Cities have shown more leadership probably because their elected officials tend not to take campaign contributions from the oil industry. Senate Concurrent Resolution 128 was killed on a 20 to 13 vote. While some Senators including Brad Little of Emmett and Kate Kelly of Boise said the evidence is so overwhelming that the state cannot remain silent and must start promoting alternative energy. Other Senators including Curt McKenzie of Nampa, still cling to the myth that there is insufficient evidence of global warming and climate change.
Voting in favor were Senators Andreason, Bilyeu, Burkett, Coiner, Corder, Kelly, Langhorst, Little, Sagness, Schroeder, Stegner, Stennett, Werk.
Voting against were Senators Bair, Bastian, Broadsword, Cameron, Darrington, Davis, Fulcher, Goedde, Hammond, Heinrich, Hill, Jorgenson, Keough, Lodge, McGee, McKague, McKenzie, Pearce, Richardson, Siddoway.
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2 comments so far...
Re: State has no role to reduce greenhouse gases?!
I belive global warming is the single most important social issue of the next twenty years. Last year students in my graduate social policy course at Boise State produced an excellent legislative briefing paper on global warming/climate change and Idaho. It was distributed to all members of the Idaho legislature. Unfortunately, it seems that many legislators choose to ignore the realities of climate change in Idaho. Copies of the paper are available from the BSU School of Social Work. The paper is also available on the School of Social Work website. Click on community the main menue.
By William H. Whitaker on
Monday, March 10, 2008
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Re: State has no role to reduce greenhouse gases?!
Thanks Bill. It is connected to everything we do. So many tax policies actually discourage practices that reduce greenhouse gases. A critical role for the state in reporting on what it can do is to completely evaluate where old policies are actually making the long term costs worse. This debate must occur during the election when all people are invited to make choices. If there is no competition for many offices, the public is not invited into the debate and the choices get made in private circles.
By Jim Hansen on
Thursday, March 13, 2008
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