Yesterday, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced a resolution aimed at blocking the EPA from issues rules to limit global warming pollution. The resolution is a bad idea that should be opposed.
Not only would it toss out the EPA’s science-based finding that this pollution endangers human health and welfare, but it would also disregard the Supreme Court ruling requiring the EPA to regulate these pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
The Murkowski Resolution would protect polluters at the expense of public health. It would sacrifice our environment to the interests of coal and oil companies. And it strikes at one of the most basic roles of government: ensuring the safety and welfare of its citizens.
As I described in a recent post, the Clean Air Act has protected Americans everywhere or more than 40 years. It's the best tool we have to curb the pollution that's causing the global warming already taking a toll across the country, from Alaska to Louisiana. Senators Murkowski, Landrieu, Lincoln and Nelson are proposing to throw away our best defense in a fight we can't afford to lose.
Other Senators--including those from both sides of the political aisle--are working on clean energy legislation that will put Americans back to work, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and create a healthier future for our country.
Rather than tying our hands, Senator Murkowski should be working with fellow Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and dozens of others to deliver bipartisan solutions that will strengthen our economy and make our country more secure.