Senator Nelson (D-NB) has been unwilling to support climate change legislation, he has even been willing to side with the GOP to filibuster climate change legislation.
Nelson is standing fast to his opposition to a clean energy and jobs bill.
Nelson's staff stated that Senator Nelson "cannot support" the new climate change bill as it is. The possibility of siding with the GOP to filibustering this new bill was brought up, it could still happen.
When asked if Nelson would join Republicans in a filibuster against climate legislation, Lute said "it depends on what ends up in the bill". Upon further questioning, Lutt admitted that Nelson standing with the GOP in a filibuster wasn’t "beyond possibility."
Climate change is affecting Nebraska significantly with abnormally higher temperatures and drought conditions threatening a vital water resource, the Ogalla Aquifier.
In the future, temperatures are projected to continue to increase with larger changes under scenarios of higher heat-trapping gas emissions as compared to lower. Summer increases are projected to be larger than those in winter in the southern and central Great Plains. Precipitation is also expected to change, particularly in winter and spring. Conditions are expected to become wetter in the north and
drier in the south. Projected changes include more frequent extreme events such as heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.
As of today no official statement from Nelson had been put out regarding the release of the clean energy and jobs bill, CEJAPA.
Only a couple of reasons were cited as to why the Senator was still unwilling to support legislation that would clean up our environment and halt climate change.
Both reasons are the same old tired talking points that numerous studies have proven wrong.
Nelson's staff person said that the ramp up times for a cap were at 17% in the Waxman-Markeley bill, and that the increase to 20% in the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Bill would create "a steeper slope to climb" for energy companies, it would result in hardship for Nebraska utility customers. This study(pdf), and another study(pdf) done by the NRDC proves that point wrong, again.
"This bill will help curb climate change, strengthen our economy, and make our country more secure. It will help generate jobs, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and create a healthier future for all of us. And it will put Americans back to work, making our country the world leader in the green technologies that are driving growth in the global marketplace."
When I asked what the source was to back up the statements about utility rate hikes the study cited was done by Nebraska Public Power., an energy company.
The second reason?
I just have to get real, state what happened, no pictures, no links, just the raw insanity when the answer sinks in.
Being a Midwesterner I have always experienced the old "if you don't like the weather now, wait ten minutes" addage. Weather changes are more extreme and more frequent these days.
While I was on the phone Wednesday afternoon speaking with the staff person, I was reflecting on how extreme just this week has been, an eery back and forth of hot and cold.
At this particular moment it was very chilly out and I had just set down a hot cup of tea as I awaited the staffers second excuse for Nelson.
Setting down the tea was a good move, because the second reason for non-support was so damn ridiculous I would have spit Earl Grey in ever direction.
There is a concern of where the funds would go for carbon credits, who would monitor them, there could be misuse and abuse with this system"
At this point I could not refrain from coming right out and asking how any Senator could use this as an excuse to not stop a global catastrophe after the Senate had skipped away from pursuing any accountability when financial corporations nearly collapsed our economy. All of that was due to "misuse and abuse of the system" on Nelson's watch, yet Nelson is worried about some carbon credits?
The answer I was given was that the Senator "was still looking into that". I then had to bite my tongue, sipped my tea, and didn't say "the answers would most likely be found in his campaign coffers."
My head was spinning when I hung up the phone, truly it was. Now some of that may have been from the hefty scoop of Earl Grey in my afternoon tea, I doubt it because the thought that Senator Ben Nelson will possibly side with the GOP in a filibuster to impede clean energy and job creation still makes my head spin today.