Will Politicians Block the Law that Protects You From Air Pollution?
Kelly Fuller
Frustrated with Washington D.C.’s lack of progress on pollution issues? Here’s a chance to do something about it.
Please call your U.S. Senators today and ask them to oppose the Murkowski amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill to block the Clean Air Act.
Tomorrow (Tues. Sept. 22), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is expected to introduce an amendment that would limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Air Act, the national law on air pollution.
The Senators could vote on this as early as tomorrow (Tues. Sept. 22), so your phone calls are needed today.
Background: Murkowski has filed a proposed amendment to spending legislation for the EPA that would prohibit the agency from regulating greenhouse pollutants except those from cars or other “mobile” sources. This means that the EPA would be unable to do anything about the greenhouse gas pollution from coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other greenhouse gas polluters that operate in a fixed location.
Some key points:
- This amendment is a political favor to industries that want to block any policy that will cut pollution and create a clean energy economy. It is more obstruction and delay.
- Congress and the Obama Administration should be working to protect the environment and create jobs. Congress should not prevent the Obama Administration from doing its job and implementing the law.
- An appropriations bill should not be used to block the Clean Air Act. It is a backdoor way to legislate that limits debate and public input.
On a matter this urgent, it’s critical that the Senators receive calls, not emails.
Iowa Senators
Chuck Grassley - (R - IA): (202) 224-3744 Tom Harkin - (D - IA): (202) 224-3254
Montana Senators
Max Baucus - (D - MT): (202) 224-2651 Jon Tester - (D - MT): (202) 224-2644
Nebraska Senators
Mike Johanns - (R - NE): (202) 224-4224 Ben Nelson - (D - NE): (202) 224-6551
North Dakota Senators
Kent Conrad - (D - ND): (202) 224-2043 Byron Dorgan - (D - ND): (202) 224-2551
South Dakota Senators
Tim Johnson - (D - SD): (202) 224-5842 John Thune - (R - SD): (202) 224-2321
Wyoming Senators
John Barrasso - (R - WY): (202) 224-6441 Michael Enzi - (R - WY): (202) 224-3424
If your state isn’t listed above, you can look up office phone numbers for your Senators here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
We’d love to hear how your calls go – please let us know the response you get by sending an email to kfu...@plainsjustice.org.
For more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/09/18/18climatewire-gop-senator-considering-rider-to-limit-epa-a-46507.html (Since this article was published, we’ve heard that Murkowski plans to act as early as Tuesday.)
Many thanks for your help!
Kelly Fuller
Communications Director
Plains Justice
100 E. Main Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Plains Justice serves northern plains communities from offices in Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota.