Lisa Murkowski vs Public Health & Security
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Senator Lisa Murkowski became famous beyond her home state of Alaska when she worked with lobbyists to propose what is popularly known as the Dirty Air Act (Resolution of Disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding, S.J. Res 26). Opposition to Murkowski’s proposal to make a horrible step backwards grew quickly.
Basically, the Dirty Air Act would “overturn EPA’s scientific finding that global warming pollution threatens public health” and EPA’s ability to regulate it.
Well, public health organizations are convinced that the EPA, not Murkowski, is the one to support on this topic. Just yesterday, 12 public health organizations announced that they are opposed to the Dirty Air Act.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has made it clear that the Dirty Air Act would undo rules regarding clean cars and clean transportation that Obama proposed last year (despite Murkowski saying it wouldn’t). This brings greater clarity to yet another con of this landmark-destroying resolution by Murkowski.
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In sending their letter, the 12 health organizations — the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Preventive Medicine, American Public Health Association, American Thoracic Society, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Association of Schools of Public Health, Children’s Environmental Health Network, Hepatitis Foundation International, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Environmental Health Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Trust for America’s Health — joined the American Lung Association (ALA) in opposing Murkowski’s resolution. The ALA sent a letter to the Senate telling it to ditch the Dirty Air Act in January.
ALA President and CEO Charles Connor says that Murkowski’s amendment is “a cynical attempt to disregard the science and block the enforcement of the Clean Air Act.”
The transportation regulations Murkowski’s Dirty Air Act would undermine are significant factors that go beyond public health into the issue of national security. Daniel Weiss says, “Sen. Murkowski’s measure would also harm public health because it would prevent EPA from issuing new limits on tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gas pollution from motor vehicles, due by April 1, 2010. These rules are part of a joint rule making with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is supposed to issue more efficient fuel economy standards by the same date…. if the Murkowski resolution passes, it would delay more efficient fuel economy standards for at least one year. This would increase U.S. consumption of foreign and domestic oil, which threatens our national security.”
Of course, Murkowski is heavily supported by lobbyists from big oil and other special interests who don’t want to address global weirding. She has received over $800,000 from the oil, gas and utility industries already.
For a short video of students protesting her Dirty Air Act at one of her big fundraising events recently, see the video below.
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Image Credit: Ejdzej via Wikimedia Commons under a CC license
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