By Laurence Schiller
With Pope Francis’s visit to Congress a week from Thursday, some GOP Congressmen who know that he will make climate change a major part of his speech want to get on the record as agreeing with the Pope, Democrats, and the overwhelming majority of scientists who say the climate is changing and that human activity is to blame. However, it’s all for show. The non-binding legislation to be introduced by Republicans this Thursday (9/17/15) doesn’t actually propose any policies to reduce greenhouse gases, but merely calls for research into what could be done. Such Republican inaction is consistent with previous party unity against every climate initiative suggested by President Obama, from cutting carbon emissions by power plants to clean air and water rules enacted by the EPA this summer.
Of course, Republican Bob Dold immediately seized the opportunity to posture. Yet when it has come time to actually protect our environment, Dold has stood with his anti-environment colleagues. Just this past July, Dold voted with every other Republican member of Congress for HR 2647, “The Resilient Federal Forest Act of 2015.” The bill not only makes it harder to defend our national forests from intentional destruction, but it actually calls for more logging. So why was the bill passed by the Republican House? Because it would reduce the influence of the federal government and environmental protection organizations.
Once again, Dold’s record and rhetoric don’t match up. He voted for legislation that hurts the environment-and accelerates climate change-and then claims he might want to do something about it. It’s just more hot air from Republican Bob Dold.