Resistance to Republican Efforts to Resurrect the Keystone XL Pipeline

Beginning at noon on Monday February 13, people are rallying in defense of President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. The goal is to send a half a million emails to the Senate in 24 hours encouraging Democrats to back their President. This effort is designed to counter Congressional Republicans who are working hard to override President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL. In January Republicans forced the President to rule on the fate of the pipeline by holding America hostage over legislation extending the payroll tax holiday.

Although the president and Congress each has power under the Constitution to regulate foreign affairs, Congress has never before interfered when a president has used an executive order to grant a pipeline permit. If Republicans are successful it is likely to trigger a complex and protracted legal battle.

As stated by Bill McKibben, "Barack Obama did the brave thing. He stood up to the American Petroleum Institute (a.k.a. big oil) and their explicit threat to exact 'huge political consequences' unless he granted Keystone an immediate permit. And the GOP did the expected thing -- all along they've voted with near unanimity to speed up the pipeline. That's par for the course from a party awash in oily money -- a party whose leaders vie to denounce global warming as a hoax, and whose current frontrunner believes that thanks to the EPA Americans are living through 'a reign of environmental terror."

McKibben reports that some Democrats are also succumbing to oil money. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, has taken more money from the fossil fuel industry than any other Democrat in the chamber, so it should come as no surprise that he has said he'll vote for Keystone. Other Democrats are concerned that the oil industry will run ads against them at election time.

"This electronic blitz is an effort to show Congress that there's support out there for doing the right thing -- that the American people know the stakes and that they want to see a little bit of the president's courage on this issue reflected in the Senate." McKibben said. "This Congress is clearly not going to solve global warming -- no one expects Harry Reid to work miracles, converting implacable Republican opponents. But they can clearly hold the line if they want to. Maybe a letter or two -- or half a million all at once -- will nerve them up."

To resist Republican efforts to resurrect the Keystone XL pipeline click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Republicans are Playing Scrooge this Christmas

Republicans in the House are looking more and more like Ebenezer Scrooge. The GOP is well known for its anti-environmental ambitions and now through their refusal to support the payroll tax cut extension, they are launching an assault on average Americans. Although many in the GOP signed a pledge refusing to increase taxes, it would appear this only applies to the tax increases for the wealthy.

Democrats and Republicans in the Senate came together to approve an extension of the payroll tax cut that would benefit American families. But many Republicans in the House are now refusing to even vote on that compromise. If House Republicans do not get behind the extension of the tax holiday, taxes will go up for 160 million Americans who can least afford it.

Thirty-nine Senate Republicans voted for the bill due to a provision that forces the administration to decide on the fate of the environmentally destructive Keystone XL oil sands pipeline within 60 days. In the spirit of the season the Democrats gave in on the unpopular Keystone XL provision. However Republicans in the House are in no mood to compromise.

The payroll tax cut is important to American families struggling in a difficult economy. A typical family gets about $40 with each paycheck from this tax cut, that amounts to about 1000 per year for the average family.

One House Republican referred to this debate as "high-stakes poker." Republicans need to understand that this is not a game. The American public does not appreciate the fact that Republican Representatives are playing poker with their financial well-being.

A letter from David Plouffe, the Senior Advisor to the President, said "We've been fighting for months to make sure taxes on the middle class don't go up on January 1st." He is asking Americans to weigh in on the debate, "Tell us what your family will give up if your taxes increase. We'll highlight stories like yours publicly so that they're part of the debate here in Washington. What's missing here in Washington is your voice."

"Too many just don't understand the perspective of a working family. They need to hear what it's like to be part of the middle class in this country," Plouffe added. To send your thoughts to the White House click here.

Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives indicated that Democrats will not support the GOP's effort to reopen the debate, dismissing it as a trick. “We are not falling for that stunt again,” she said.

Pelosi made reference to the “Peanuts” cartoon series, saying she would not play Charlie Brown to Boehner’s Lucy. In the famous cartoon Lucy taunts Charlie Brown into attempting to kick a football, only to have Lucy pull it away at the last moment.

“He is not Lucy and we are not Charlie Brown,” she said.

Democrats said they would stay in Washington throughout the Christmas holiday trying to encourage the GOP to pass the two-month extension.

As we enter the election cycle of 2012, Obama's approval rating is on the rise and this may be just the Christmas present the President wanted. Republicans who put the fossil fuel industry ahead of average Americans should expect little more than a lump of coal.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Republicans Use Blackmail to Gain Support for the Keystone XL Pipeline

Republicans appear oblivious to both environmental issues and the economic difficulties of Americans. On Friday December 16, Republicans in Congress decided to play a game of chicken with America by linking the passage of the social security payroll tax-cut extension and employment benefits to the Keystone XL pipeline.

Republicans are also pressuring the President to make a decision about the pipeline in just 60 days. However, the State Department has indicated that 60 days is not enough time to explore the issues involved and make a responsible decision.

Although Republicans seem hell-bent on pushing through the Keystone XL. it is hard to justify increasing fossil fuel exploitation in light of the irrefutable body of evidence demonstrating the link between petrochemicals and climate change. We can ill afford to add to more greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. This is particularly true of tar sands oil which is far more energy and GHG intensive then conventional oil.

If the Republicans have their way, the Keystone will ferry more than eight hundred thousand barrels of tar sands bitumen from Alberta to the the Gulf coast each day. Some scientists have concluded that the rampant exploitation of the tar sands is "game over" for efforts to combat climate change. Further, an oil spill could have devastating consequences to people and wildlife. It may also endanger the huge Ogallala Aquifer which provides drinking water for millions of Americans.

Republicans commonly exaggerate the benefits of the Keystone XL. While some have suggested it will provide tens of thousands of jobs, it will be lucky to supply more than a few hundred full time jobs. Independent research including a study from Cornell University, suggests that the economic benefits have been wildly overstated. There are more jobs to be had from supporting alternatives to fossil fuels.

If the issue is weaning America off of foreign oil, it makes more sense to encourage the growth of alternatives that would move the nation's energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels altogether.

Some have argued that if America does not use tar sands oil it will be used by others (ie exported to Asia), but this is a flawed argument. According to a number of different analyses, it will be far harder and more expensive to deliver tar sands oil to overseas markets than it is to ferry it by pipe to the US.

Going forward with the Keystone will only increase American's mistaken belief that they can continue to rely on hydrocarbons. Increasing access to fossil fuels will also diminish the impetus to find cleaner alternatives and enhance efficiency initiatives.

Perhaps most importantly, building the Keystone XL will expedite the extraction of Alberta's tar sands and raise GHGs.

Supporting the Keystone XL tar sands project makes no sense and tying it to much needed economic aid amounts to blackmail. Rather than threaten to deprive Americans of financial support, Republicans in Congress should be working on strategies to push for alternatives that will provide jobs and grow the economy without imperiling the environment.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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GOP Resorts to Fraud to Ease Passage of Anti-Environment Act

Republicans are working hard to push the TRAIN Act through the House, they have even resorted to fraud to try to ease the bill's passage.On Thursday September 22, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's GOP leadership inaccurately claimed that they have the support of a number of green groups.

Republicans circulated the fraudulent list of more than 100 groups allegedly supporting the TRAIN legislation. The list includes a number of groups that have strongly opposed the bill, including the Texas chapter of Public Citizen, Clean Air Watch, the Clean Air Task Force and Clean Water Action.

“It’s the dirtiest of dirty air acts,” Clean Air Watch President Frank O’Donnell said, referring to the TRAIN Act which would prevent the EPA from doing its job.

“There is no way we would sign a letter in support of the TRAIN Act,” Stuart Ross, the communications director of the Clean Air Task Force said. “The TRAIN Act is one of the most aggressive and toxic bills ever introduced on the floor of the House from an environmental and public health standpoint.”

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Stop the Republicans Anti-Environment TRAIN

On Friday September 23, the US House is expected to bring to the floor the TRAIN Act – one of the most extreme anti-environmental bills in memory. The measure, known as the "Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act," or "TRAIN Act (H.R. 2401)," is set for a final vote.

The TRAIN Act would mandate new interagency economic studies of EPA rules. The bill would delay a recently finalized rule to cut interstate power plant emissions that worsen ozone and particulate pollution, and an upcoming rule to cut mercury and other air toxics from power plants. Twenty seven east coast states, would be affected by the Cross-State Air Pollution rule; the mercury rule would affect many industries across the country.

A key Republican is floating an amendment that would mandate longer minimum delays to the power plant rules than the underlying bill requires.

Not surprisingly, the American Petroleum Institute and the US Chamber of Commerce support the Act. "The TRAIN Act would put the brakes on several of EPA's most damaging regulations until a full study of their cumulative impact is done -- one that includes not only health and social benefits but actual impact on economic competitiveness, trade, energy supplies, consumer spending and jobs," the chamber said in a letter.

Planet hating Republicans and even some moderate Democrats say EPA regulations will impose massive burdens on the economy and cost thousands of jobs.

However, these statements are contradicted by an EPA report released in March finding that between 1990 and 2020, the benefits of Clean Air Act rules will outweigh the costs by a factor of 30 to 1.

The EPA estimates that Clean Air Act rules -- particularly for particle pollution -- will prevent 230,000 premature deaths by 2020. The EPA analysis also takes into account medical expenses averted, including an estimated 120,000 hospital visits.

"The beneficial economic effects of these two improvements alone are projected to more than offset the expenditures for pollution control," it concludes.

These clean air rules are life-savers for Americans suffering from heart disease, asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. Although detractors argue that clean air is simply too expensive, the facts suggest otherwise.

Top 10 utilities combined profits in 2010 – $28.4 billion.

Return on investments for the smog rule that the President delayed – $37 billion in value for a cost of about $20 billion by 2020.

Costs associated with implementing current Clean Air Act standards in 2010 – $1.3 trillion in public and environmental health benefit at a cost of $50 billion.

According to the National Resources Defense Council, that’s more than 9% of the GDP at a cost of .4% of the GDP – a 26 to1 benefits to costs ratio.

In addition to saving lives, clean air is cost effective.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Defend Clean Air and Oppose the TRAIN Act

Americans are resisting the TRAIN Act (H.R. 2401) ahead of a House floor vote which is expected on Friday September 23rd 2011. If passed, the TRAIN Act will sacrifice tens of thousands of lives, pollute the air, and expose children, families, and communities to toxic air pollutants that cause illness and developmental disorders.

The NRDC considers the Train Act to be the most deadly bill in House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s Pro-Pollution Plan.

The TRAIN Act spawned a biased committee of cabinet members to review the costs of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health standards. However, it completely ignored the economic and health benefits of the EPA's health stadards.

Since its inception, the TRAIN act has been amended to make it even more deadly for Americans. The amendment from Rep. Whitfield (R-KY) would permanently block two life-saving clean air safeguards: the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which curbs smog and soot pollution from power plants that crosses state lines, and the Mercury and Air Toxics standards, which limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants.

The Republican plan would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from re-issuing the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule for a minimum of 19 months, and any Mercury and Air Toxics standards for a minimum of 15 months.

The amendment also eliminates any actual deadline for the EPA to re-issue standards. This repeals current law, which has imposed firm deadlines for EPA to issue air toxics standards for polluting industries. Blocking the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and Mercury and Air Toxics for just one additional year would result in:

• up to 25,300 lives lost;
• more than 11,000 heart attacks;
• more than 120,000 asthma attacks;
• over 12,200 more hospital and emergency room visits; and
• many hundreds of thousands more days of missed work or school.
• the bill’s lengthier minimum periods of delay (15 &  19 months) would result in up to 33,450 premature deaths.

The real toll likely will be much higher since the legislation allows indefinite delays in these vital public health safeguards.

Call your Representative and urge them to vote “NO” on H.R. 2401 and block this reckless attack on clean air protections for all Americans.

Call Congress at 877-573-7693 now and say No to HR2401.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Credit Downgrade and the Green Economy

In the wake of the US credit downgrade entitlement reform may be the only hope for the green economy. Many believe that the battle against climate change cannot be fought with a weakened economy. The credit downgrade will increase pressure to resist any new government investments particularly those related to combating climate change.

America's downgrade from AAA to AA+ will cost the US an additional 100 billion per year in increased interest charges to service their debt. There is also the psychological impact, the full effects of which are unknown.

The credit downgrade in the US is also exacerbating economic fears around the world. Concerns about the global economy caused Asian stock markets to fall on Monday, extending one of the worst sells offs in recent years. Japan's main Nikkei 225 index and South Korea's Kospi both dropped significantly when markets opened on Monday morning. Predictably, gold, the heaven of nervous investors, gained in Asian trading.

Conventional conservative dogma would have us believe that governments should not invest in the economy. Even before the downgrade, Republicans opposed any new government investments, particularly those that involve the green economy. Republicans even resisted the government's Recovery and Reinvestment Act that prevented a total economic collapse.

On the debt ceiling, Republican obstructionism made compromise impossible. Republicans refused to allow the President to levy taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of the American population and corporations. In the absence of new taxes, another way to manage the burgeoning debt is to increase revenues through growth. Sadly, Republicans appear blind to the fact that there is no more significant growth opportunity then the one afforded by the green economy.

Republicans fault Obama and Democratic lawmakers for not doing more to create jobs. The truth is the GOP is to blame for thwarting all efforts to invest in a green economy which could create jobs and make America more competitive. The logic is overwhelming as the costs of preventing climate change are a fraction of the crippling costs we will incur if we continue with business as usual.

According to an analysis by Google, failure to move aggressively to implement a clean energy economy will cost the US GDP “trillions” over just the next five years. In 2009, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) published a report authored by the co-chair of the IPCC and other climate science experts, revealing that the net present value of climate change impacts, i.e. the costs to civilization, are US$1,240 trillion under our current emission path and $410 trillion if we manage to stabilize atmospheric carbon at 450ppm. Most climate scientists would like to see that number at 350ppm or less.

Despite the overarching concern of climate change, Republicans and some Democrats, put self-interest ahead of national-interest. In 2012 we will see what happens to those who put their political ambitions ahead of the interests of the nation.

Although Republicans position themselves as the party of business, there are many in the business community who are opposed to Republican anti-environmentalism. Even though the nation’s leading business lobbying group consistently disagreed with the White House on the issue of climate change, there are a growing number of businesses with a different point of view. Some businesses see the wisdom of seizing the opportunity to grow the green economy and prevent full blown climate change while we still can. Several high-profile members, including Apple and Nike, left the Chamber of Commerce because of the organization's resistance to Obama’s pursuit of climate change legislation.

A congressional committee must make even deeper cuts to avoid further downgrades. While most believe further budget cuts are necessary, no one wants to see cuts in programs that impact them. How different is that from the Greeks or the Spaniards who vociferously resist much needed austerity measures? Austerity is what it will take to tackle climate change, and short term pain, although difficult, will lead to long term gain. The alternative is a nation in decline.

The Republican strategy can be best summarized as my way or the highway. President Obama and Democratic lawmakers listened to Republicans and upheld former President George W. Bush’s tax cuts. Rather than make concessions of their own, Republicans launched an all out assault on the environment. On the debt ceiling, President Obama and the Democrats conceded to cuts to the EPA and other important environmental programs. For their part, Republicans refused to compromise on the issue of new taxes and forced major cuts to environmental initiatives. The debt ceiling agreement should be the last time the White House offers something for nothing, going forward Obama must demand quid pro quo.

Although it is unpopular with Democrats and their supporters, entitlement reform may have to be on the table. In return for entitlement reform, Congress must be encouraged to support the green economy and the jobs that come with it. If, as expected, Republicans continue to be obstructionist, voters will decide the issue in 2012.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Let Boehner Know that US Competitiveness Should not be Compromised

Under the cuts imposed by the Republicans, US competitiveness is being compromised. The American people expect Congress to come together to ensure that America can be competitive with the rest of the world. To be competitive forward looking nations are investing in the green economy because they understand that competitiveness is increasingly about sustainable economic growth and green jobs.

Republicans said no to the President Obama's balanced approach that pairs an increase in the debt ceiling with responsible steps to reduce America's long-term deficit. However, despite support from most Americans, Republicans will not accept any form of compromise that might force the very rich and oil companies to pay their fair share.

There is another way to increase revenues and this involves growing the green economy, but again Republicans refuse investments that will contribute to economic growth.

Republicans are opposing efforts to increase revenues, not only by refusing tax increases for the wealthiest 2 percent, but by cutting agencies and programs responsible for environmental programs. These are the types of programs that could help make America competitive in the new green economy.

Each of us must get involved to resist the Republican's petty partisanship and tell House Speaker John Boehner, that US competitiveness in the green economy must not be compromised.

Call Boehner now at 202-225-0600.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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