Climate Politics
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Environmentalists say: stop ALL of Arizona's anti-immigrant law
Today, Arizona’s “show me your papers” anti-immigrant law SB1070 goes into effect. Across the country, July 29th has been declared a national day of action for Human Rights. Phoenix is ground zero for the collective outrage and protest that this bill has inspired. Here thousands of people are in the streets, many showing their courage […]
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A plan to change the Senate's rules and make the Senate work again
The Senate clearly isn't working, and the frustration is being felt outside and inside the body. I challenge my colleagues and all of you to support my Constitutional option for changing the rules and making the Senate function again.
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The filibuster undermines democratic accountability
The filibuster stands today as the single most important impediment to the significant reforms needed in America's climate/energy policies, its immigration policies, its labor law policies, and its need for a functioning judiciary. But beyond that, the filibuster has become a critical force undermining the workings of democratic accountability.
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The filibuster is what enables the 'secret hold' in the Senate
Besides blocking legislation that enjoys majority support from coming to a vote, the filibuster lies at the heart of a number of disruptive and anti-democratic practices in the Senate, including the so-called "secret hold." The secret hold helped delay Senate action for so long that time ran out for a climate bill.
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There is no constitutional right to filibuster
Debates about Senate procedural reform very often have constitutional undertones. Some claim that senators with strong, minority-held viewpoints have a constitutional right to prolong debate, even indefinitely. A related, more nuanced, argument begins by pointing out that our Founders envisioned the Senate as a careful, deliberative body that would check the rashness of the House of Representatives. Accordingly, some argue, the Framers intended that Senators be able to debate without limit. I am going to address and -- I hope -- refute each of these claims.
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The filibuster is giving enviros unwarranted self-esteem issues
The dysfunctional state of the Senate has damaging consequences that extend into virtually every corner of American politics. There's just one in particular I want to focus on today, namely: it gives progressives a complex!
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Lessons from Senate climate fail
Here are some lessons learned from the perspective of someone who spent the last few years trying to push a real bill through the real Congress.
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Recently elected Dem senators want more 'fight’ for green economy
In a series of interviews with the Wonk Room at Netroots Nation, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) described the challenges of confronting climate pollution in the sclerotic legisla
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Smoking vs. obesity: Which health issue most deserves taxpayers' dollars?
Anti-smoking spending is down, while anti-obesity spending is up. Is this really a problem?
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Congress rolls out its spill bills
Finally we got a look at what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) considers climate and energy legislation. Don't cheer all at once.
