In yet another pitifully ironic policy-maker turn of events, one of the nations staunchest never-mind-the-science climate change deniers, Senator Jim Inhofe, is in line for chairman of the senate environment and public works committee, the body’s top environmental job. The Oklahoma Republican didn’t just come to the science blind camp when the Tea Partiers made it popular. He’s pooh-poohed what has grown to become the findings of 97% of the world’s scientists for a good 20 years. The senator published a book in 2012 that called global warming a hoax and has compared the Environmental protection Agency to the Gestapo. Not surprisingly, his major source of campaign funding has been the oil and gas industry.
The take-over of the Senate and majority of business-as-usual proponents in the House of Representatives will threaten the administration’s attempt to reel in policies that hasten climate disruptions. The fight is on and the president will have to choose his battles wisely. Pundits say he will probably fight hard to protect his power plant emissions rule and continue attempts to gain global cooperation on climate, but Keystone-XL could be the sacrificial lamb.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/06/climate-denier-jim-inhofe-in-line-for-senates-top-environmental-job
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2012/aug/02/climate-change-political-funding-us