Sweet Mother Earth is smiling today. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowsi's so-called "Dirty Air" amendment has failed by a vote of 53 to 47.
Senate Joint Resolution 26 would have overturned EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as well as key provisions of The Clean Air Act.
The amendment, co-sponsored by Arkansas Senator "Big Oil Blanche" Lincoln and authored by two former Bush Administration Big Energy lobbyists, marked the "First time we were asked to repeal a scientific finding" according to Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA. Senator Boxer, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, also said that voting for the Murkowski amendment indicated a willingness to stand with polluters and Big Oil and against American families, their health, and their livelihoods.
Murkowski's amendment was supported by all 41 Senate Republicans and six Senate Democrats. Democratic "yes" votes joining Lincoln included Senators Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Bayh, Landrieu, Pryor, and Rockefeller, in order of greatest cash received from Big Oil. Lincoln's Big Oil donations of $286,400 follow the two biggest recipients in the Senate. David Vitter (R-LA) received $783,00 and Lisa Murkowski (R-Big Surprise, Alaska) raked in $430,000 Big Oil bucks.
All remaining 52 Democratic Senators and Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT, voted against Murkowski's amendment. Please call to express your appreciation for their vote in support of The Clean Air Act and the EPA's efforts to reduce carbon emissions.