Waxman: House GOP More Anti-Science Than Ever

[Hissyspit]

Source: Mother Jones

Waxman: House GOP More Anti-Science Than Ever

— By Kate Sheppard| Mon Mar. 7, 2011 12:50 PM PST

Over the years, there have been plenty of hard-fought environmental skirmishes in Congress, but Henry Waxman thinks the latest battle over the future of climate policy in the US could be the toughest one yet. In remarks at the Center for American Progress on Monday, the California Democrat, who helped to usher in 1990's landmark Clean Air Act amendments, accused his Republican colleagues of taking an increasingly anti-science bent.

"Protection of the environment is now a partisan battleground," Waxman said. "On climate change, we can't even agree whether there is a problem." That's not to say things were peachy in the past; there were of course major battles over measures to curb acid rain, toxic power plant emissions, and other environmental protections. But, Waxman said, "I've never been in a Congress where there was such an overwhelming disconnect between science and public policy."

His remarks come at the beginning of what is shaping up to be an interesting week on that front. On Tuesday, the House subcommittee on energy and power will hold a hearing on climate science and the Environmental Protection Agency's new greenhouse gas regulations. And on Thursday, Republicans on that committee plan to move forward with legislation that would decimate those rules.

House and Senate Republicans have put forward a joint proposal that would not only amend the Clean Air Act to say explicitly that it does not apply to greenhouse gas emissions, but would also nullify the EPA's scientific finding that those gases pose a threat to humankind (a conclusion that even the Bush-era EPA had reached).

Read more: http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/03/waxman-house-gop-more-anti-science-ever

[azul]

1. How many of the new congressmen are climate change deniers?

Seems like that was the litmus test for getting elected by big money.

[defendandprotect]

2. It's a loss re the investigations ... but Dems also got started late -- love Waxman--!!

[Confusious]

3. Boy, ya think next they'll put forward an amendment

That says gravity doesn't exist? I'd like to go to mars.

[glinda]

4. Anti-science people believe they are exempt from extinction apparently.

[blackspade]

5. This batch of rethugs are....

either religious nuts or self obsessed nihilists.

They need to be sent home and shunned by their communities.
They are hopeless fools that shouldn't be trusted to tie their own shoes.

[provis99]

9. they are in Congress because of their idiot communities.

It is the fault of the stupid right-wing voters for electing these clowns in the first place. One can say at least that these Republican idiots are accurately reflecting the opinions of their voters.

[w4rma]

10. It's the fault of the billionaires who brainwash their communities with tons of money. (nt)

[blackspade]

11. But not the public at large.

This is not a center right country as the M$M likes to parrot.
It is an apathetic left leaning constituency that needs to be woken up.

[PatrynXX]

6. someone should explain to them why there's earthquakes in the middle of the country

Fracking..... (still can't believe CSI had an ep on that)

[Democat]

7. Anti-science people who probably take medication every day!

They are anti-science even though they benefit from it daily.

Just like the right wingers who are against social security and government benefits, while collecting it.

[LawnKorn]

8. Anti-science Republicans probably read their Bibles every day!

It's Gawd's will don't 'ya know.

[and-justice-for-all]

12. If science issues shit on the pukes shoes...

they would still deny it.