Senator David Vitter of Katrina-ravaged Louisiana tries to block climate change response centers

[RedEarth]

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is trying to prevent the United States from being ready for the next Hurricane Katrina. Vitter, who denies the human influence on global warming <6>, has submitted an amendment (S. Amdt. 2450) to the Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 2996) to block funding for centers <7> that study and prepare for the impacts of climate change:

SEC. 423. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO DEVELOP REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE OFFICES.

No funds made available by this Act may be used to develop Regional Climate Change offices within the Department of the Interior.

On September 14, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a comprehensive framework for his department’s response to climate change impacts, including the establishment of eight Regional Climate Change Response Centers <8> under the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS has already begun the development of these regional science centers <9>, which will “synthesize and integrate climate change climate change impact data and tools that the Department’s managers and partners can use when managing the Department’s land, water, fish and wildlife, and cultural heritage resources.”

Vitter’s amendment would be a bizarre attempt to outlaw science for any U.S. senator. However, it is particularly immoral for a senator from Louisiana. The great Mississippi Delta is under extraordinary threat from global warming <10>, as seas rise and storms intensify. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated Vitter’s state, costing this nation $80 billion, killing thousands, and displacing a million people. Most of the devastation could have been avoided with the proper preparation and response. One major gap was a lack of understanding of climate change, which significantly intensified Hurricane Katrina <11>. As hurricane scientist Kerry Emanuel has explained, “Probably if Hurricane Katrina had happened in 1980, the levees would have held <12>.”

http://climateprogress.org/2009/09/23/vitter-senator-of-katrina-ravaged-louisiana-block-climate-change-response-centers/print/

[aquart]

1. What is the matter with him?

[cbayer]

2. Everything. nt.

[Nihil]

4. He's rich and so can avoid the impact ...

... while continuing to get richer from the bribes contributions
from the CC denial lobby ...

[Quantess]

3. If they were called "diaper change response centers" he would have supported them.

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

[tavalon]

5. Remind me again of why we have the jackass as our mascot

I mean, really!

[yankeeinlouisiana]

6. Just called his office

they're going to get back to me. I asked the guy who answered the phone, "why, after Katrina and all of the hurricanes we have been through in the last few years, and we are losing miles of our coastline daily, why would he introduce a bill like this?"

I'll let you know what they come up with when I get their email.

[PavePusher]

7. Do we have proof that any hurricane..

or it's intensity can be tied to AGW? If we did, I missed it. Hurricanes have been common place for millenia.