Climate Politics

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  • Designed to Obstruct, US Senate Erodes Public Trust

    Last time, I illustrated how the un-democracy of the US Senate hogties the Pacific Northwest. It radically underrepresents the most-populous, diverse, and innovative parts of the country, making it exceedingly difficult for the nation to adapt to the demands of a radically new global era by, for example, adopting sweeping new approaches to energy and […]

    Alan Durning Politics

  • Murky future for Clean Water Act restoration

    Now that health insurance reform has passed Congress, is it finally time to restore the health of America’s waters? I know what you’re thinking — the Clean Water Act already protects the nation’s waters, right? That we learned our lesson and cleaned up our water act after the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969? Wrong. […]

    Miles Grant Politics

  • Permission to take a worry break, enjoy the health-care victory

    Without getting all pundit-y, can I suggest that it wouldn’t hurt progressives to celebrate more? Others have done a better job than I can explaining what a big deal health-care reform is. I’ll just add: if you need a break from fretting about climate change, or ocean acidification, or agribusiness and school lunches, or the […]

    Jonathan Hiskes Politics

  • No rest for the warriors.

    Today President Obama signed health care reform into law. This is an incredible victory not just for the President and members of Congress who championed the legislation; not just for the movement of people and organizations who advocated for change; not just for the millions of Americans who will soon have affordable health coverage when […]

    Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins Politics

  • Kerry-vs.-Bingaman power struggle lurks beneath ‘what next?’ question in Senate

    Sens. Kerry, Lieberman, and GrahamPhoto: Wonk RoomIn the wake of health care reform passage, the question du jour seems to be: what next? The Senate doesn’t have a ton of time before mid-term elections bring Silly Season (not that any season is free of silliness in the Senate). A number of issues are tapping on […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • Coalition of 22 Democratic senators urges floor vote on climate bill this year

    Now that health care reform is out of the way (praise f’ing Zeus!), what’s next for the Senate? Several issues are jockeying for attention: jobs, financial reform, immigration, and others. More than one senator has said that there’s just no time to get to climate and energy this year, especially after the protracted and divisive […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • Passage of healthcare security bill gives momentum to bipartisan climate and energy security bill

    The success of health reform creates momentum for Democrats that is almost certain to help advocates of climate change legislation. So begins the EnergyGuardian story (subs. req’d) by reporter and Fox News contributor Jeffrey Birnbaum.  Similarly, BusinessGreen reports: The chances of US climate change legislation passing this year received a major boost after President Obama secured victory in his historic […]

    Joseph Romm Politics

  • The inevitable ‘What Does Health Care Reform Mean for Climate Legislation’ post

    Health care reform has passed and Obama will sign it into law Tuesday. By the end of the week, most experts forecast at least twelve katrillion thumbsucking “what does health care reform mean for X” pieces. This is one of them. Barack Obama and Joe Biden react to health care voteWhite House First, politics aside, […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • Why aren’t climate scientists talking about healthcare reform?

    Health care reform dominates the news as Dems struggle to push their reform package through Congress. I applaud the effort, but can’t help wondering why climate change is being left out of the debate. Research shows that climate change is harmful to our health, raising rates of cancer and of respiratory and neurological diseases. So […]

    Mary Bruno Politics

  • Why we shouldn’t bury bluefin tuna just yet

    The mighty bluefin: Are rumors of its death at least slightly exaggerated? “Nations free to fish bluefin tuna to extinction,” thundered Tom Laskawy’s headline on Grist. On the Politics of the Plate blog, Barry Estabrook’s title was more concise: “Bye-bye bluefin.”  They were reacting to the decision by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered […]

    Megan Westmeyer Politics