7 Deadly Amendments That Would’ve Protected Dirty Energy And Trashed The Climate

[ProSense]

7 Deadly Amendments That Would’ve Protected Dirty Energy And Trashed The Climate

By Ryan Koronowski

This weekend, Senate Democrats passed a federal budget for Fiscal Year 2014. In order to do so, Senate rules allow for consideration of any amendment that is brought to the floor. Senators introduced hundreds of amendments, which resulted in a “vote-o-rama.”

Many conservatives offered amendments to undermine existing and potential public health safeguards, particularly those that would attempt to reduce climate pollution. Below are seven deadly amendments to curtail protection for our children’s health and heritage. As usual, these conservatives are focused on protecting dirty energy companies profits at the expense of public health.

• Blunt #261: This amendment would have blocked future legislation to impose a carbon tax or fee to reduce industrial carbon pollution and raise revenue...Result: FAILED 53-46
  
  
• Coats #514: This amendment would have struck down key Clean Air Act protections by authorizing the President to exempt any industrial facility from complying with air toxics standards for two-year periods...Result: FAILED 46-53
  
  
• Alexander #516: This would “repeal … the wind production tax credit.” The PTC provides a tax credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity to encourage investment in clean wind energy...Result: Did not come to the floor for a vote.
  
  
• Inhofe #359: This amendment would “(prohibit) further greenhouse gas regulations for the purpose of addressing climate change.” This would have prevented the EPA from enforcing the Clean Air Act as interpreted by the Supreme Court...Result: FAILED 47-52
  
  
• Cruz #470: This radical amendment would have limited the amount of land owned by the federal government in each state. It is yet another attempt by Republicans to give federal public lands over to states or private companies so as to better exploit them...Result: Did not come to the floor for a vote.
  
  
• Vitter #544: This amendment would have dismantled the president’s authority to protect America’s historical and natural treasures under the Antiquities Act...Result: Did not come to the floor for a vote.
  
  
• Murkowski #370: This amendment states that it would “increase oil and natural gas production on Federal lands and waters,” despite the fact that oil production is at its highest level in 20 years...Result: Did not come to the floor for a vote.

- more -

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/03/24/1764581/7-deadly-amendments-attempted-to-protect-dirty-energy-and-trash-the-climate/

One got through:

Did one of your Democratic Senators vote to support the Keystone pipeline
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022559350