The stupid, it burns:
Republican 2018 guv candidate Scott Wagner keynoted an event for natural gas advocates in Harrisburg on Tuesday, offering an ... ah ... novel explanation for the scientific phenomenon known as climate change:
"I haven't been in a science class in a long time, but the earth moves closer to the sun every year-you know the rotation of the earth," Wagner, a York County state senator, said, according to StateImpact Pennsylvania. "We're moving closer to the sun."
He added, according to StateImpact's Katie Meyer, that, "We have more people. You know, humans have warm bodies. So is heat coming off? Things are changing, but I think we are, as a society, doing the best we can."
Wagner's remarks came before a panel assembled by county commissioners from the Northern Tier, who want Harrisburg to pay closer attention to the interests of the state's farthest-flung counties (those big, boxy ones along the top where elk outnumber people).
Yeah, no kidding that he hasn’t been in a science class in a while. Here’s some info:
The lawmaker is indeed a bit rusty on the basics of astronomy. Contrary to what Wagner said, the earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours, not every year. And it may come as a surprise to him that the United States and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere experience winter when the earth’s yearly orbit brings it closest to the sun.
Scientists widely agree that the release of greenhouse gases from human activity is the primary force leading to climate change today.
In a statement provided by a spokeswoman, Wagner said human activity is partly responsible for climate change ― although he implied that people shouldn’t take drastic action in response.
Don’t laugh. This is serious. This is a guy who is proud to be considered a mini-Trump:
Supporters and detractors alike describe Scott Wagner, a 61-year-old freshman state senator from York County, as “Donald Trump-lite.”
“I think when you check me out, you're gonna find I'm the real deal,” Wagner told dozens of supporters Thursday at Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. in Murrysville, one of several stops on a two-day state tour to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor. The election is in 2018.
Similar to what's expected from the president-elect, Wagner has been a bit of a disrupter in Harrisburg since being elected almost three years ago. He also has affection for President-elect Trump.
“Donald Trump is a visionary and he's a leader,” Wagner said in an interview. “He cares deeply about this country, and I care deeply about this country.”
In some respects, Wagner was Trump before Trump, said Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
“He came into the Senate as an outsider,” Madonna said. “He has consistently had this outsider, anti-establishment view.”
It’s very important we make sure Governor Tom Wolf (D. PA) gets re-elected. Right-wing extremists like Wagner are controlling the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Democrats run the state Supreme Court and if we are ever going to undo the GOP gerrymandering of the Keystone State, we have to make sure Wolf is re-elected. Click here to donate and get involved with Wolf’s re-election campaign.