Global Warming

The Record reported on Thursday that the Corzine administration has missed a June 30 deadline for a report outlining New Jersey’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over the next four years – something that could affect Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson’s chances to become the Governor’s next Chief of Staff.  Jon Corzine, with former Vice President Al Gore at his side, signed the Global Warming Response Act one year ago yesterday.  A DEP spokeswoman told The Record that the report is still a few months away. 

COLUMBUS - Franklin County commissioner and 15th Congressional District candidate Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Columbus) revealed the first part of her energy plan today as she received the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters.

Kilroy's plan today seeks to tackle global warming and create green-collar jobs to reinvigorate Ohio's economy. Specifically, the plan seeks to reduce U.S. carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade system, increasing energy efficiency with tax breaks and utilizing new sources of energy (such as biofuels and wind)

"I think it's so vital that we come together as a country to address these twin issues of energy and global warming," Kilroy said. "For too long congress has been gridlocked on global warming. Partisan divide has held up any meaningful movement to establish long-term energy security - a long term plan for the energy future for our country."

Pending legislation on climate change currently being considered before the U.S. Senate, is impacting all sides of Kentucky's own Senate contest, with Senator Mitch McConnell challenging his opponent on the issue, while the incumbent faces attacks for his own efforts to quell the bill's progress - which include a required public reading of hundreds of pages of legislation.

Yesterday, the League of Conservation Voters [LCV] hit McConnell for his opposition to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. That legislation would create a so-called "cap-and-trade" system, wherein pollutant emissions are limited and companies can purchase or trade credits allowing them to emit certain amounts of certain pollutants up to the limit.

"McConnell voted against even debating the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which marks an important step toward achieving necessary comprehensive global warming pollution reductions and energy independence. What is he afraid of?" read the LCV release.

The Washington State Democratic Party has released a video on youtube today mocking Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's ambivalence on climate change. Recently, he has made remarks in support of the existence of gloabl warming, but as recently as two months ago in Kitsap County and two weeks ago in the Seattle Times he was not so clear.

The Democrats focus on statements Rossi made at a meeting with the Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce in March where he was asked his position on global warming. They have video of Rossi's response where he says, "There is still a lot of debate going on on this. There is going to be a big debate on this coming up in the next two or three years...We'll see how this debate goes, but I don't think anybody should panic at this point."

Dino Rossi took questions on KUOW's "The Conversation" radio show this afternoon in Seattle. The main focus of his time was spent talking about his transportation plan, where he reiterated his message that his plan would provide more choices for commuters while his opponent Governor Chris Gregoire, refused to take a stand. Rossi also defended his plan's numbers and maintained that providing for alternate methods of transportation were not under the jurisdiction of the governor.

He was also asked by callers about his position on abortion rights and whether or not he would renounce the support of the Building Industry Association of Washington in response to their repeatedly controversial positions and comments.

NORTH BEND -

Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain participated in a roundtable discussion on environmental issues today at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center in Eastern King County. McCain was joined by a wide slate of interested parties, ranging from Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland to REI CEO Sally Jewel, former Governor Dan Evans and Mercer Island City Councilman Steve Litzow along with a handful of local business and non-profit group leaders.

Local Republicans in attendance at the event included Attorney General Rob McKenna, who is McCain's state chair, former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, former Secretary of State Ralph Munro, state Senator Cheryl Pflug and Party Chair Luke Esser. The first thing off their tongues was their excitement at having such a prominent national figure in town.

Sen. John McCain leads a roundtable discussion

Stepping onto a stage which has thus far been dominated by Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain needed an issue that would gain traction with independents and moderates in Oregon, a state which is expected to be a battleground in November.

His answer? Global warming.