Talk about the "Nuclear Option"...

At a time when our world is teetering on the brink of ecological collapse (yes, I know it's a bright sunny day out there probably as you read this), the Republicans are out to kill off legislation that was hard won and will be hard to get back once they have decimated it.

Other global competitors (especially China) are playing to win this race for a clean energy future, and we should be working together to create the 21st century technologies that will help us grow our stagnant economy, cut pollution even further, and end our over-addiction to oil and other fossil fuels; instead of working against our own good. If China can have clean air standards, why can't the US?

Instead, some in Congress seem more interested in taking us back to the19th century, where you couldn't see for the coal smoke in most major cities. Or even as late as the 1980's, where I'm told that the wir was so thick with pollutions some days, you couldn't see the end of your block.

The latest proposal by Wyoming Senator John Barrasso is  attempting to gut the EPA AND every other federal agency from using the Clean Air Act AND any other environmental law to do anything about reducing America's clean air and climate pollution. After thirty years of improvements, the Republicans want to take us back to the Bad Old Yesteryears.

And just for good measure, it would also preempt state climate actions. Please tell me where these legislators who have in the past been so pro "States Rights" can justify this nonsense?

A similar proposal by West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller would halt EPA actions to reduce carbon pollution for at least two years. These proposals are part of a coordinated pro-polluter assault on America's clean air standards that would reverse important progress we've made to cut pollution and promote innovation.

The 21st century will be a clean energy century. If Congress refuses to fulfill its responsibility to pass a strong climate and energy bill, it should at least get out of the way of progress.

I strongly urge you to oppose the Barrasso "Do ABSOLUTELY Nothing on Climate" bill, the Rockefeller "Do Nothing for Two Years" bill, and all bills like them. It's time to respond with courage and fortitude.

[Taken in part from an Environmental Defense Fund letter to be found @
http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1025 ]