Democrat leading charge against global warming bill
Published: May 5, 2009
Updated 1 year ago
Republican Sen. James Inhofe (R-KN) once called global warming the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” Democrat Rick Boucher (D-VA) doesn’t agree — and supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 — but he’s leading the charge to water down the first-ever legislation to control greenhouse gases.
A key moderate Democrat from coal country, Boucher solidified his resistance to Democrats’ massive carbon trade global warming bill after being ousted from his seat on an energy committee, according to a report Tuesday.
It’s unclear whether Boucher is leading resistance to the bill because of a personal snub. He lost his chairmanship on a key House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommitee when liberal Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) ousted Michigan Democrat John Dingell earlier this year. Dingell, a close ally of the auto industry, aimed to water down provisions in the bill tightening carbon emissions standards.
That likewise seems Boucher’s goal. The 14-term Democrat represents a coal-producing area in Virginia and favors a weaker carbon cap plan.
Noted the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call Tuesday, “Boucher has already forced the postponement of a subcommittee markup set for last week and compelled leaders of the panel to engage in closed-door negotiations throughout the weekend.”
“Both sides need to work toward the center, a consensus,” Boucher told the paper, urging that legislation address “sensitive issues along the way and not cause economic disruption.”
Boucher voted against the Kyoto Protocol in 2000, which would have set emissions targets for US businesses, and also opposed increasing fuel economy standards for automobiles in 2001. He did, however, support Democrats in their quest to bar oil drilling in Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuge.
Boucher was bumped from his position atop what was formerly called the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee after Waxman wrestled the committee’s gavel from Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.).
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Well, his first loyalty is to the “industry” that gives him most of his money. Pay to Play Politics at its best.
Too bad he doesn’t care about creating more jobs for his human constituents, nor does he care about helping their children and grandchildren have a habitable planet..
Those campaign contributions (from the only people in the area with money) are too tempting, it seems.
I am tempted to move back to my former home state of Virginia just to be able to help remove this selfish, greedy asshole from power. Planet-killing son of a bitch.