Maryland Republicans Want To Make Environment Their Issue - And They'll Be Using Science (!)

[hatrack]

With the 2010 elections looming, the Maryland Republican Party has extra incentive in attempting to make over its "anti-environment" image. Last month, the state GOP named a 12-member Commission on Environmental Solutions, a sign that Republicans are looking for a common voice on an issue on which Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has received high marks from advocates and where Democrats routinely outscore Republicans on legislative report cards.

Commission members include Republicans from around the state with backgrounds in environmental policy, utilities, agriculture and green business. They have one thing in common, said Maryland Republican Party Chairman James Pelura III, who launched the idea of an environmental panel: "They are Republican, and they want to solve our environmental problems using science."

An emphasis on science is a must for the commission to work, said Wayne T. Gilchrest, a Republican known for championing the environment during his 18 years representing Maryland's 1st Congressional District. That includes involving scientists from universities around the state such as Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland — something commission organizers said they intend to do.

EDIT

There's little expectation that a Republican approach to the environment will win over the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, said Andrew Langer, the commission's chairman. "I don't expect traditional left-leaning environmental groups to ever accept an environmental conservation approach that involves markets and less government," said Langer, who spent 15 years working with organizations focused on federal environmental policy and is now president of The Institute for Liberty, a conservative public policy advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.

EDIT

Ed. - Uh, no, we already tried that. It was called "The Bush Administration". It didn't work.

http://www.somdnews.com/stories/06052009/indytop92557_32254.shtml

[Mythsaje]

1. Yeah, because we already know how much the "free market" cares

about the environment.

NOT.

[NV Whino]

2. Is that the science of coin flipping

or dart throwing?

[hatrack]

3. I think they read chicken entrails . . .

Being Republicans, there has to be blood involved somewhere.

[NV Whino]

5. !

:rofl:

[crikkett]

4. Come on now, several Republicans see the wisdom in protecting the environment

and how doing so will protect a) their money and b) their childrens' futures.

I'm not being snide here. I know intelligent, rational Republicans in Maryland.

[AlinPA]

6. I don't know any here in PA.

[crikkett]

7. Fair enough - but the story was about Maryland. n/t

[pscot]

8. I was going to say something positive

about Republiicans being willing to stand up for the environment, but when it came right down to it, I was could not actually type the words on the page. I just don't fucking believe 'em.

[kestrel91316]

9. They must smell money. They can't possibly be motivated by actual concern

for someone or something other than themselves and their wallets.