Environmental Watchdogs Slam GOP "Climate Peacocks", Push For Real Action, Not Baby Steps
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But critics continue to crow that these Republicans are "climate peacocks," who only claim to care about science, clean energy and the environment. The watchdog group Climate Hawks Vote is gearing up to release its environmental scorecard, which takes a hard look at the 17 Republicans who signed the climate resolution, originally introduced by former Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.). While the bill spawned plenty of media attention and the bipartisan caucus, critics argue the group has not yet produced consistent messaging or meaningful legislation that can pass a deeply polarized Congress.
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(Ed. - Climate Hawks co-founder V.L.) Miller is chairwoman of the California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus. She pointed to Golden State Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, a strident critic of U.S. EPA during the Obama administration, as the most prominent example of a GOP lawmaker who has no business being in the caucus. "That just makes all of us roll our eyes and say, 'Really, this is pure politics,'" Miller said.
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Curbelo led four Republican colleagues on a letter to the Trump administration, advising against withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. In the wake of President Trump's announcement that he planned to exit, Curbelo has stepped up his legislative action, backing bills to tackle short-lived contributors to climate change and methane emissions (E&E Daily, June 9). For many Republicans, joining the caucus represents "grabbing onto the first rung of that ladder," Valk said.
Curbelo earned a B from Climate Hawks Vote, Miller said, while everybody else on the Republican side is in the D and F range. The scorecard is based on votes germane to climate, in addition to what lawmakers are publicly saying on the issue. Among those graded F in the 114th Congress is Republican Elise Stefanik of New York, the lead sponsor of the GOP climate resolution in the 115th Congress. Miller explained what factors into the failing grade: Stefanik spoke out in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline, against EPA "overreach" and against the Clean Power Plan, and she has a light legislative track record.
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https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060056616