About time this happened, that is:
WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, intent on putting global warming atop the Democratic agenda, is shaking up traditional committee fiefdoms dominated by some of Congress’ oldest and most powerful members.
She’s moving to create a special committee to recommend legislation for cutting greenhouse gases, most likely to be chaired by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., a Democratic leadership aide said Wednesday. […]
The move, to some degree, would sidestep two of the House’s most powerful Democratic committee bosses, in shaping what’s expected to be at least a yearlong debate on global warming:
_ Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell of Michigan, a defender of the auto industry and at 80 the longest serving member of the House. […]
A new committee would give Pelosi a vehicle to push a regulatory scheme for reducing greenhouse gases and pit her against President Bush, who plans to outline his global warming approach in his State of the Union next week. Bush has repeatedly opposed any mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, instead advocating voluntary approaches and research on new technologies. Pelosi has supported mandatory reductions with specific target dates for achieving them.
“It’s an issue that the speaker thinks is critical to address,” said Pelosi spokeswoman Jennifer Crider.
I don’t know about you, but this is a good sign that the Democratic leadership is taking the issue of global warming seriously. If left in Dingell’s hands as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Commmittee, nothing would be done, because of his obvious ties to the American Auto Industry based in Detroit.
Those corporate dinosaurs will continue their misguided and failing strategy of producing gas guzzlers despite the fact that Toyota is eating their lunch and dinner, and is moving in on breakfast, too. You know, Toyota, the company with the highest number of hybrid vehicles sold in America (191,742 ) last year? The only major car company who is expanding capacity in North America right now? Yes. That Toyota.
The last thing we need is Dingell stalling on emission controls to protect American car makers so they may to continue their failing policies. Thank you Nancy Pelosi. Good luck to you.
Very good news. It will be interesting to see what Bush offers. No Clime Left Behind?
This is excellent news!
Not only is she sidestepping Dingell, but she’s stealing the wind from W’s sails, as his state of the union speech is supposed to focus on climate change and new energy sources (funny how it’s not about “freedom on the march in Iraq and Afghanistan…”).
It also lets W know that if he wants to talk the talk, he’s gonna be given hiking boots to walk the walk [one can hope!] from this congress.
I know this is off topic, but I am watching cspan 3 on the judicial hearing with abu gonz. I tell you, specter is with good oration but he nees to be rieminded as to what he did with the his last escapede. Leahy is swearing in abu gonz..a new and refreshing enviroment. Yea….
Sorry about the spelling above…;o(
I was going to give Nancy her chance to see just what she is made out of. I am glad to see this news! It warrents watching closely to see what is going to happen with this new committee. I will hold my judgment until I see how it developes. All the same it seems like a great step forward to solving some of our republican holdbacks and malfesence. Thanks for the heads up….hugs
Hope all is well with your family…hugs to them as well.
Thanks for the good news, Steven. Slow-talking Rep Dingell needs to be circumvented on this subject. Detroit/suburban auto makers like to call the shots, come hell or high water. Good for Speaker Pelosi.
I watched Gov Granholm’s inspiring inaugural speech earlier this month. She has a monumental task in attempting to revive a flourishing economy in Michigan. She spoke repeatedly to individuals, saying it would depend on each and every one. It is probably beyond hope that the bigwigs in the auto industry will come on board to do their part in the efforts to begin the needed changes in lifestyle.
Speaking of the car companies here it almost seems they have tunnel vision or a death wish for the industry…as long as they can keep getting their obscene salaries and bonuses they don’t give a shit.
How incredibly shortsighted can they be….they can’t even sell cars to China because China’s emissions controls/standards are higher than what comes out of US cars. Another gigantic market lost.
With all the money the car industry was swimming in at one time they could used part of their profits to become truly innovative and green and made even more money…if they advertised enough people would buy…but no, these bastards couldn’t see beyond their own paychecks it seems and now they are crying the blues…..and the workers in the auto industry are the ones who have truly gotten screwed over royally…more death of the middle class.