Saturday, June 07, 2008

S. 309: Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act - To amend the Clean Air Act...

This bill only recently left Committee in 2007 (click here) and is a success story to the leadership of Senator Barbara Boxer, the Committee Chairwoman.

As an amendment to "The Clean Air Act" this would place Carbon Dioxide among the status of all the other polluting agents that have successfully been addressed for decades now. It would permanently place the 'status' of Carbon Dixoide in the accesses of The New Source Review (NSR) (click here).

The NSR is proven to be a valuable and publically accessible tool to monitor pollutants and to stop their emissions. It is well established USA infrastructure begun in the 1970s when even Republicans had a conscience regarding the moral issues of Environmental Stewardship !


Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) talks with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in her Capitol Hill office about Climate Change on April 22, 2008.

The bill currently has 19 co-sponsors. None from Alaska !

S.309 Title: (click here)
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, and for other purposes. Sponsor:
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 1/16/2007)
Cosponsors (19) Latest Major Action: 1/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] - 5/8/2007
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 1/16/2007
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 5/8/2007
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 7/19/2007
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 5/3/2007
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 1/30/2007
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 5/9/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 1/16/2007
Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] - 7/12/2007
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 1/16/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 1/16/2007
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 1/16/2007
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 5/7/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 5/3/2007
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 1/16/2007

Alaska needs to rid themselves of the Old Republican Dead Wood that have no vision for the future of Alaska, but, only "Sell Out" signs on their office doors to Corporate Big Oil. Get RID of the Republicans in Alaska !

MURKOWSKI NOTES ENVIRONMENTAL PETITIONS SEEKING SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION (click here)


Pledges to Continue to Work to Improve Boxer-Lieberman-Warner Bill to Meet Alaskan Concerns with Measure
Tuesday, June 3, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Anchorage office staff today received petitions from a group of Alaskans urging her to vote for the Boxer substitute of a global climate change bill that is currently being debated on the Senate floor.

Murkowski’s staff accepted the petitions and said the Senator will continue her efforts to fully understand how the complex bill will affect Alaskans. Senator Murkowski said she has yet to decide how she will vote on the measure, but said she still has considerable concerns about the costs of this legislation on average Alaskans.

“I’m reviewing the bill, but I have concerns about it as it’s currently written. In particular, I’m concerned that the strict restrictions on energy will lead to large increases in the cost of energy, which will inevitably be passed on to the consumer. I believe we have to strike the right balance between environmental regulations and the effects on the economy. Until the impact of the bill on Alaskans can be fully understood, I’m not comfortable supporting a measure that could have such a profound impact on Alaskans,” said Murkowski, who said she looks forward to the amendment process....

The bill was modified from the annals of what was once a Republican moderate and Democratic moderate, whom are now Republican Extremists on every issue presented to them.

The debate occurring today revolves around how to best address the issue of GLOBAL Climate Change and not IF it needs to be addressed.

The problem in passage of any Climate Change legislation is that, as with Hillary Clinton, the OLD stalwarts of both the Democratic and Republican Parties are scarred with 'a history' that can be termed "Survival of the Fittest" of the Bush Neocon Years. The people with 'Political Capital' have survived the Unethical, Illegal and highly Immoral Bush/Cheney years with such favorites as Tom DeLay and Abramoff leading the CORRUPT PATH of the current Executive Branch.

As a result, there is a lot of 'corruption' still left in the seats of the Senate and House, viewed as political change when in fact it is political corruption, that need to be replaced. The 2006 elections were a good start to reversing not only the trend in Carbon Dioxide, but, the trend in corruption.

Barak Obama will prove to be a pivotal figure and as President Elect will begin the much needed return to 'decency in government' and the eviction of the type of leadership that sought to undermine the best interests of the American people with this recent attempt to Secure the Nation from the atrocities of Global Climate Change.

The Senators that sought to undermine the bill and its abilities to move the American economy (Much of the lethargy regarding this issue revolves around 'Consumerism.') from one based in oil to one based in Solar and Wind are simply prolonging the arrival of the future and CAUSING damage to lives and property that can only be stemmed with reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. All these issues, including the survival of Alaska's Polar Bear in its natural habitat, return to the fact that the USA was warned nearly 5 decades ago to enact legislation that is currently STILL under attack because of STRICT CONSTRUCTIONISTS that see no change in the future, but, only more of the same old dialogue that interprets into LACK OF WILL to enact change that stewards environmental responsibility.

Earth has a 'Geophysical status.' It doesn't change. It doesn't adapt and when asked to respond to the demands of humans responds with deadly force! Everyone needs to 'get over the fact' people and their consumerism are the issue and will continue to be the issue and the physics of Earth are finite with specific outcomes to any stresses placed on it. Earth has its limits, humans need to live with those limits. End of discussion.

Summary of The Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act (click here)
Summary of The Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act(As debated in the U.S. Senate on October 30, 2003)
On October 30, 2003, Senators Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT) and John McCain (R-AZ) brought a revised version of their Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 (S.139) to a vote in the United States Senate. While the measured failed by a vote of 43 to 55, the vote demonstrated growing bipartisan support for a genuine climate change policy....

Neither Alaskan Senators were present during Climate Change Bill. No surprise here. Better it be removed from debate and them REPLACED !

I suppose if Senators ignore their responsibilities and don't vote, issues do become a 'cliche.' Alaska needs to start electing Democrats to their State and Federal seats. The "Oil Economy" continually touted as Alaska's Right is becoming an icon of failure and a vehicle to the Climate Crisis as noted in the lower 48 states. Alaska needs new leadership to take it into the future. Oil is a dead economy and on its way to becoming laughable.


Senators Ted Stevens, left, and Lisa Murkowski, both of Alaska, George Allen of Virginia and Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, all Republicans, discussed the Arctic drilling measure Wednesday at a news conference (old picture - Allen no longer anywhere to be found !).


Environmental bill dies in Senate, Alaska delegation skips vote (click here)
by Maria DowneyFriday, June 6, 2008
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A Democratic bill dealing with climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases was defeated, following a week of partisan bickering.
The Democratic bill would cap carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and factories while cutting greenhouse gases by 71 percent. Opponents say that translates to a huge tax increase and would lead to even higher energy prices.
Democratic leaders fell 12 votes short of getting the 60 votes needed to end a Republican filibuster.
Neither Sen. Ted Stevens nor Sen. Lisa Murkowski was present for Friday's vote. Both offices say the senators were flying back to Alaska for earlier commitments and they say it was widely known the measure would not pass.
Contact Maria Downey at
mdowney@ktuu.com