Republicans Censor Climate Information in Schools

Climate denial is alive and well in the GOP. Republican legislators are conspiring to deprive kids of a science based climate education. In at least one state they have already succeeded. Earlier this year Republican lawmakers in Idaho voted to remove all fact-based references to climate from the state's science curriculum.

The state's House Education Committee voted for the new K-12 statewide science standards in February.  Republican legislator Rep. Scott Syme said he wanted the standard to include what he called "both sides of the debate". However, rather than invoke the baseless claims that constitute the other side of the argument lawmakers opted to excise all mention of climate change.

Proof of Disinformation from Fossil Fuel Companies (Video)

The fossil fuel industry is widely known to be the driving force behind climate denying front groups and disreputable scientists. Their aim is to make the public question the veracity of climate scientists and by all accounts they have been successful. In the US they managed to increase public skepticism and gain control of the Republican party.

As revealed by a series of internal company and trade association documents the fossil fuel industry has funded climate denial. This summary of evidence from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows how the fossil fuel industry funds a campaign of deception. 

Here is an assemblage of some of the most compelling evidence to date:

Obama Clean Energy Budget and Republican Opposition

Here is a summary of the green elements in President Obama's $4 trillion budget for 2016 which he sent to Congress on Monday February 2. Republicans are already expressing their opposition to a number of proposals contained in the budget. This includes higher taxes on wealthier Americans and corporations as well as a number of climate oriented mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

GOP Denial and President Obama's Climate Legacy

Republicans continue to resist the veracity of anthropogenic climate change despite an endless stream of scientific warnings. The GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union address was given by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and she did not mention climate change once. The only time she mentioned the environment was in the context of her party's support for the Keystone XL.

Video - Stop the Republican Environmental Assault

Republicans were planning their assault on environmental protections even before they won big in the 2014 midterms. It did not take them long to identify targets in their anti-climate/anti-environment crusade. No single agency is more maligned by the GOP than the EPA.

Cromnibus Bill Foreshadows the GOP's Legislative Agenda

In the December budget bill, Republicans gave themselves and their friends a number of Christmas gifts. The so called Cromnibus bill is a pale reflection of what Republican legislators will do when they have even greater control in 2015.

After the House voted in favor of a 1.1 trillion government funding bill, the Senate followed suit and passed the bill on Saturday night (December 13) with a vote of 56 to 40. To avoid a government shutdown, Republicans demanded some non-germane amendments that amount to big gifts for themselves and their friends in the oil industry and on Wall Street.

Anti-Environmental Tidings in a Bill to Keep Government Running

A pre-Christmas bill contains some bad tidings for the environment. Republicans had an extortion list to avert a government shutdown that included blocking environmental protections. The so called Cromnibus bill, narrowly passed in the House with a vote 219 to 206, it will keep the government running until next September. The $1.01 trillion, 1,603-page spending bill is chalked full of pork including a number of anti-environment provisions.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and many of her colleagues were particularly displeased with two attached riders that would significantly increase the ceiling for political donations from wealthy patrons while scaling back the Dodd Frank Wall Street reform act designed to reign-in the kind of Wall Street activity that sparked the financial crisis of 2008.

The Weapons Republican will use in their War on Climate Protections

There are a number of weapons that the GOP will use in their war against climate protections. The planning has already begun as the new slate of Republican legislators and governors prepare to be sworn in in January. Here is the array of resources each side has at its disposal.

Republicans are already zeroing in on targets. They will try to pass legislation that eliminates climate change mitigation efforts and environmental protections. They will support fossil fuels and resist cleaner forms of energy.

The right to filibuster and a Presidential Veto are all that stand in the way of the GOP's legislative assaults. When the Democrats avail themselves of their only option or the President uses his veto, Republicans can be expected to wreak bloody havoc.

Republicans Pass Anti-Science Bill in the House

Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed a bill that would keep the EPA from using science to inform and support their policy positions. Republicans have a long history of resisting science particularly when its serves their partisan interests. However, with this new bill they have sunk to a new low as few pieces of legislation are as blatently anti-science as this one.

In November the House passed a bill that would limit the type of scientific research available to the EPA for crafting regulations. The bill deceptively named the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 passed in the House with a vote of 237 to 190. While the legislation purports to restrict the EPA's use of science that is "hidden and flawed" it is actually an attempt to undermine access to things like medical research which guarantees that the medical records of those who participate are kept confidential.

Republicans Declare War on the Environment and Surrender to Climate Change

Even before the new slate of Republican's take their seats in Congress early in 2015, they have already begun their assault on the environment and efforts to fight climate change. They have promised to take on the EPA and President Obama's climate change agenda.

Led Mitch McConnell, the man destined to be the next Senate majority leader, this climate-denying-coal-loving Senator has made his anti-science, anti-climate and anti-environment intentions clear. In his home state of Kentucky he campaigned on the promise of combating what he has terms Obama's "war on coal." One of the top items on the Republican agenda is fast tracking of the Keystone XL.

Republican Ignorance and the Latest IPCC Report

The Republican's response to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report puts their ignorance and their partisan politics on display. Although this is among the world's most comprehensive reports on climate science it is dismissed by the GOP as "politics".

Listen to what two leading Republicans had to say about the IPCC's conclusion that the Earth is headed towards, “severe, pervasive, and irreversible” climate change impacts:

Republican Law to Curtail (Environmental) Regulations

Even before the 2014 midterms Republicans were looking for ways to fight environmental regulations.  Republicans have already passed legislation in the House that would keep the federal government from spending money on regulations. The bill is called the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act. It would require the approval of both houses of Congress for any federal rules that cost $100 million or more per year.

Republicans are well known for their outdated anti-regulatory political philosophies. They have not changed their tune one bit even though recent history has painfully demonstrated that it was the absence of regulations that led to the global recession of 2007 & 2008.

Republicans and Democrats on Climate Change

There is a massive gulf separating Republicans and Democrats on the issue of climate change. Climate change and environmental issues did not keep Republicans from achieving gains in the Senate, the House of Representatives and many gubernatorial contests. When we take a look at voting patterns we once again see the stark partisan divide between Democrats and the GOP on climate change.

Republican Climate Deniers are in Control

In the wake of the 2014 midterms, some of the most environmentally backward people in the United States have taken control of the world's most powerful legislatures. A similar situation arose in 2010, but it is even worse in 2014.

Three Republicans in particular stand out for the gulf that separates them and their responsibilities.

Mitch McConnell, that coal loving Senator from Kentucky is now the Senate majority leader. He will serve as the chief Senate spokesperson for Senate Republicans and he will manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. He will have priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate

The new Senate Energy and Commerce Committee chair is as close to the fossil fuel industry as you can get with your clothes on. Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is even more favorably predisposed to the oil industry than here predecessor.

The Arsenal Republicans will use in their War on Climate

There are a number of weapons that the GOP will use in their war against climate protections. The planning has already begun as the new slate of Republican legislators and governors prepare to be sworn in in January. Here is the array of resources each side has in its arsenal.

Republicans are already zeroing in on targets. They will try to pass legislation that eliminates climate change mitigation efforts and environmental protections. The right to filibuster and a Presidential Veto are all that stands in the way of the GOP's legislative assaults. When the Democrats avail themselves of their only option or the President uses his veto, Republicans can be expected to wreak bloody havoc.

For starters the GOP can block all of the President's nominees. They can defund federal agencies like the EPA. They can shut down government by refusing to approve a budget (Republicans have already done this in the past so there is no reason to believe that they would not do it again). They could even trigger the "nuclear option" of a global financial collapse by breaching the debt ceiling and defaulting on the US national debt.

GOP Identifies Targets for their Impending War Against Climate Protections

When the new slate of GOP candidates take office in January they will make good on their threats to go to war against climate protections.

Now that Republicans control both houses of Congress and have won governorships in blue states like Maryland, Massachusetts, and Illinois, we can expect them to wage a holy war against the climate.

Make no mistake about it, these are some of the most climate hostile governors and the most anti-environment Congress in US history.

Republicans Trying to Kill Power Plant Rules

Congressional Republicans are looking for every opportunity to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency's climate change regulations. The Clean Power Plan would reduce allowable emissions from power plants which would cause hundreds of coal plants to close. Republicans have decried the regulations which they describe as part of the administration's "war on coal." The Republican's latest ploy involves an allegation that administration improperly colluded with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Infographic - Funding of Climate Denial

Republican Opposition to Agenda 21 and a Climate Agreement

Republicans are largely united in their opposition to the Obama administration's support for Agenda 21 and a global climate change deal.

Ironically, it was a Republican President who initially endorsed Agenda 21 on behalf of the United States. President George Bush was one of the original 178 heads of government that signed the final draft of Agenda 21 in 1992.

Currently Agenda 21 is endorsed by 528 US cities who are members of ICLEI, an international sustainability organization that helps to implement the Agenda 21. In total there are 1,200 ICLEI cities around the world.

Video - Rep. Scott Peters Calls out Republican Climate Deniers and States it is Time to Act on Climate Change

Rep. Scott Peters speaks to the science of climate change, call out his Republican colleagues for their inaction, and calls for action. He reviews the fact that climate change is real and humans are the cause. He talks about why businesses are moving to address it and like the business community we cannot wait to act. Unless we start planning now we will incur massive costs from rising seas, warmer ocean temperatures, and extreme weather. He sites the Risky Business report and states that failing to prepare is "outrageous." Such preparations are simply smart business practice which is why he has introduced bipartisan legislation on resiliency preparedness, save money on future losses. In addition to supporting the Clean Power Plan he is also trying to move forward with legislation that will reduce emissions from things like methane and black carbon. He concludes by decrying Congressional Republicans who deny science and climate change and states emphatically that it is "time to act.