Action Alert: The Kerry-Lieberman Bill

I would expect this from Traitor Joe, but Kerry should hang his head in shame!

In the midst of what appears to be the worst offshore oil disaster in American history, U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) will today put forth a draft climate bill that will not solve the problems of global warming and continues pandering to the fossil fuel industry — including expanded offshore oil drilling — that created the problems in the first place.

The proposal, leaked one day before its official release, reflects months of back-room negotiations between the senators, major polluters, and other Washington insiders, and would:

• provide only a fraction of the greenhouse gas pollution reductions scientists have said are necessary to avoid catastrophic climate disruption;
• ban successful Clean Air Act programs from reducing greenhouse pollution;
• ban existing state and local efforts to tackle climate change;
• catalyze increased oil and gas drilling — including offshore drilling; and
• subsidize dangerous and costly nuclear energy.

In response, Center for Biological Diversity Executive Director Kierán Suckling urged rejection of the proposal unless these problems are addressed. He issued the following statement:

"The climate proposal put forth today by Senators Kerry and Lieberman represents a disaster for our climate and planet. This proposal moves us one baby step forward and at least three giant steps back in any rational effort to address the climate crisis.

"The senators’ proposal would entrench our addiction to fossil fuels by offering incentives for increased oil and gas drilling just days after what appears to be the worst offshore oil disaster in American history. Large domes, small domes, golf balls, garbage, chemical dispersants, fire — none have succeeded in stopping the enormous flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Clearly, there are no ‘safeguards’ Senators Lieberman and Kerry could put into this bill to make offshore oil safe… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Common Dreams>

If you’ve been reading awhile, you know that I am not an absolute thinker.  I see shades of gray and am often willing to accept a ‘the best we can get’ compromise over nothing at all, often to the chagrin of some of my more purist friends.  This is not one of those times.  There is no gray here.  There is black and deeper black.  This bill, unless drastically modified through the amendment process, leaves us worse off that the already unacceptable status quo.  I urge it’s defeat

You can contact your Senators here.