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March 23, 2016 02:04 PM UTC

Colorado Senate Climate Change Denialism, Because Of Course

  • 29 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

ostrichWe wanted to be sure this report from the Colorado Independent’s Kelsey Ray got noted for the record, and today’s freak Front Range blizzard makes a fun backdrop:

Republican-sponsored SB 157 would suspend all Colorado action toward implementing the CPP indefinitely, unless the Court lifts its stay and approves the plan…

“If part of the Clean Power Plan is implemented, we don’t want to be left behind,” said Taryn Finnessey of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, who authored the state’s climate plan.

“It would absolutely put us behind the curve,” agreed Becky Long, a lobbyist for the environmental advocacy group Conservation Colorado.

But the bill asserts Colorado simply doesn’t have the right to keep working toward the stayed plan’s goals.

In the absence of a federal mandate like the Clean Power Plan, the bill claims, “no legal state authority exists for any agency of the state” to keep working on a state plan related to power plant CO2 emissions.

Sen. John Cooke.
Sen. John Cooke.

That’s hooey, of course, the state is free to pursue whatever plan it likes even if the federal government’s authority to do it is questioned. As we’ve noted previously, Colorado was/is well ahead of the curve in progress toward the basic goals of the Clean Power Plan, and the decision by our state’s GOP Attorney General to sue has created a very public split with Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supports the plan as a logical extension of what the state is already doing.

But again, that’s the conversation grownups want to have about the Clean Power Plan.

In the GOP-controlled Colorado Senate, they don’t have many of those.

In his testimony, [Sen. John] Cooke said, “The bill today isn’t about the myth of man-made climate change.” [Pols emphasis]

Unfortunately you can’t have a grownup discussion of the objectives and merits of the Clean Power Plan with the Senate GOP, because they refuse to acknowledge there’s a problem with human emissions and climate change at all. Even if this bill doesn’t directly address the underlying purpose of the Clean Power Plan, everybody knows that’s what this debate is really all about.

And make no mistake, when a slightly incredulous Sen. Matt Jones asked Cooke a moment later if he really believes “man made climate change is a myth,” Cooke made sure everybody knew that wasn’t a misquote.

With new science and polling demonstrating both the urgent reality and public acceptance of human-caused global climate change, there’s going to come a point when this kind of rank ignorance will be disqualifying from mainstream politics, much like Holocaust denial became after Simon Wiesenthal or anti-LGBT bigotry increasingly is today.

But as you can see, at least in the Colorado Senate, we’re not there yet.

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29 thoughts on “Colorado Senate Climate Change Denialism, Because Of Course”

  1. Cooke knows everything that Moderatus knows . . . 

    . . . as long as Coloradans have enough guns, they are protected from anything and need fear nothing!  Nothing!

  2. And tax cuts for the rich!  Never forget the tax cuts.  How can the rich buy enough guns to solve our problems if you make them pay taxes for wasteful stuff like schools, highways and medical care?  Geez, Diogenes, sometimes I think you're goin' RINO on me.

    1. "Geez," indeed!  Seemed so obvious as to go without saying, VeeGee …

      … what right-thinking person needs having that explained?   Not many folks who need to be told "breathe" before every respiration …

  3. Funny you should mention that. I was just listening to "Guns, Guns, Guns" by the great Canadian band, The Guess Who. Was live from their June, 2000 concert in their home town of Winnipeg. 

  4. "Who says Republicans don't believe in science?!?"  Colorado's junior senator?  

    I'd like to remind him once again the term radical is the technical definition of someone trying to change the fundamental nature of 'something'. Radical environmentalists are those who use our atmosphere as a zero-cost dumping ground while they peddle around their 'low cost' product to a gullible public.  Radical economists would be those who defy life-cycle costs analysis, refusing to invest what would have amounted to pennies per mcf to capture their fugitive methane emissions – while saddling a future economy with its billions in true costs. 

    The #ShaleRevolution and #MarcoMentum are kissing cousins.

     

    1. Are you sure your fact laden truthiness is helpful?  By all appearances, it's not wanted.  You had actual math in a post recently, implying one could calculate the tillable area of an entire county. As if!

       

      keep up the good work- and let kn know when you're ready to campaign, I'll tell some couch potatoes to help out.

       

       

       

       

  5. First- there is no global warming.  Didactic look outside today?

    B. Even if there is some small change, no way is it caused by anything humans did.  Why's it always gotta be about you?

    finally, even if there is change or warming, and we contributed in some small way, there is no way to avoid it now. We must burn more coal.

    D. Blame China, or Canada.

      1. There should be a debate in the general in Florida. 

        One of the questions to Trump should be….

        …given that you and the party you lead deny climate change is causing a rise in sea levels, or… Anything else, will you pledge right now that if Florida is submerged or Flooded, there will be no Federal funding to mitigate?

         

         

        2. Florida coastline properties are projected to incur $69 billion in damages because of storm surges due to climate change. Meanwhile, "crazy eyes" Governor Scott won't allow state employees to even use the phrase "climate change" in official documents. The Federal EPA  is not shy about it -This EPA brochure says that 40% of Florida's coastlines are eroding. Building bulwarks and wooden walkways, importing and dumping sand, are all expensive, don’t actually restore coastlines, and don’t get at the real problem.

          As people start leaving Florida, will it have fewer electoral votes? Is that only calculated every 10 years with the census?

          It looks as though we'll lose the tip of Florida in this century, if climate change is not slowed significantly.

           

          1. Perhaps a better use of the Mexican Treasury would be to have them pay for a Great Wall around the southern tip of FL? 

            Speaking of krazee eyes (this has nothing to do with climate change unless you count the hot air flowing from her mouth): 

            Feeding her incessant need to be seem relevant, Michele Bachmann gets some ink in Wing Nut Daily. Apparently the Brussels terror attack was God smiting Obummer for holding hands with Raul and snubbing AIPAC? Who knew?!?

            Perhaps our good friend Moddy could break the news to his fellow faux-lifer that Israel has one of the most liberal abortion policies on Earth and universal health care? That, and a strong focus on Cannabis research for health. Perhaps the two of them could join hands and demand no more foreign aid! until they adopt Texas-style requirements for women's health? 

             

              1. Even if you believe in an vengeful and vindictive god smiting folks left and right (mostly left according the Bachman), this wouldn't even make sense.

                If god is out to punish Obama, would Chicago, Hawaii or some place important to Obama be a more relevant target?

            2. A barrier around Florida?  Prehaps, a Florida-sized condom would be just the ticket  …

              … but you know how well that'd play with the GOPers.

          2. To tell you the truth, mama, I care somewhat less about all those houses along the beachs than I do about what this will do to the unique ecosystem of the "River of Grass"…the Everglades. It will become open water…lost completely…

            1. Wouldn't it be amazing to have a Florida alliance of real estate developers, hospitality and tourism industries, and environmentalists and conservationists, crusading in unison to preserve the Everglades and the beaches?

              Florida Governor Rick Scott has a reputation as a crook and a huckster. His denial of the effects of climate change has to have a money motive, but it's short term vs. long term gains. I guess hucksters mostly look at the short term gains.

              I see a parallel in Colorado – our tourism industry and ski-town economy are adversely affected by climate change impacts – wildfires, floods, shrinking glaciers, unpredictable out-of-season snowpack or lack thereof.

              We, at least, aren't in climate change denial (except, of course, our GOP legislators), but we aren't completely facing up to how climate change affects our economy. Cannabis tourism can't make up for all of the deficits, although it's kept us afloat so far.

          3. Cheese&Rice!

             

            South Florida is done.

            Can people there even buy flood insurance anymore?

            (oddly, even if 100% of the blue, red and green are lost, S. Florida will still have too many condos)

             

             

            Btw, Tx, Al, Ms, La, and Tx- same question to you Mr. Cruz.

            1. Remember when Barry Goldwater mused about sawing off the northeastern part of the country and letting it drift out into the Atlantic? (I know. I'm old but not THAT old. I remember reading about him saying that.)

              Who would have thought instead we'd be seeing the red states overrun by the ocean….

            2. Florida renters and homeowners along the coastline are well and truly screwed.

              a) their Governor won't admit climate change exists, and forbids his employees to use it in official documents. But the insurance industry in Florida is passing along all risk to consumers.

              b) Congress enacted a law in 2012, the Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which changed the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to reflect "true risk" of flooding. NFIP used to subsidize flood insurance premiums – not any more.

              b) According to Floodsmart.gov, the site for the NFIP

              Recent legislation phases out subsidies for some older buildings in high-risk flood areas. As a result, rates for these buildings will rise until they reach full-risk rates. In addition, all policyholders will be subject to new assessments and surcharges.

              So these rates can now rise 25% per year until they reflect "true risk". The insurance companies are covering their collective assets very well.

              How does a $24,000 yearly flood insurance premium grab you?

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