| Last Friday, U.S. Senator John Cornyn abstained on the most critical vote we've had on climate change -- the Climate Security Act (S. 3036). Let me begin by saying that Cornyn doesn't miss very many votes. He's only missed 11 votes in 2008, and 7 of those came while he was campaigning with McCain in Texas from Feb. 25 - Feb. 27. Why, then, would he miss this vote? Texas voters support protecting our environment - and not just liberal Democrats, but Republicans and Independents as well. In 2007, some of the biggest leaders against the construction of new coal plants weren't Austin liberals, but rural farmers in Central Texas who depend on a clean environment for their livelihood. Not to mention numerous Christian groups that support the stewardship of the earth. The ideologies of Climate Change aren't Democrat vs. Republican -- it's Democrat, Independent, & Rural/Religious Republicans against wealthy Republicans. Cornyn's Cash Flow from Big Business A quick look at where Cornyn's campaign dollars are coming from tells part of the story why Cornyn just couldn't bring himself to side with his constituents on the issue. From the Center for American Progress Action Fund and OpenSecrets.org, we can see the following contributions Cornyn has received: Cornyn's Campaign Contributions
| | Group | 2007-8 Contributions | Lifetime Contributions
| Oil & Gas
| $725,050 (#2 of any U.S. Senator this election cycle) | $1,197,305
| Auto Industry
| $139,154 (#4 of any U.S. Senator this election cycle) | $240,654
| Chemical Industry
| $134,900 (#4 of any U.S. Senator this election cycle) | $208,260 | TOTAL
| $999,104
| $1,646,219
|
That's $1 million from just three companies that have an interest in amending, weakening, and stopping the Climate Security Act. And with all that money, all Cornyn did was abstain. Why? Because he doesn't know what to think. From a June 3, 2008 press release: "The debate over our environment is one well worth having. It should not be about partisan politics. It should be about doing what's right for families and future generations. "We can be good stewards of our environment while taking responsible steps to lower gas prices and strengthen domestic energy production."
So what did Cornyn do? He immediately launched into partisan politics, attacking Noriega for supporting the Climate Security Act and supporting efforts to bring clean energy solutions to Texas. From a June 4, 2008 press release -- the very next day: “Moderate Democrats are backing away rapidly from this bill,” noted Cornyn campaign spokesman Kevin McLaughlin. “It’s highly revealing that Rep. Noriega is going the opposite direction -- throwing in with the most extreme liberal Democrats in the Senate, such as Boxer, Kerry and Durbin. It’s a strange position for someone who wants to represent Texas.”
Yeah -- so "strange" that 54 U.S. Senators supported the legislation. Unfortunately, between Cornyn's abstention and Hutchisons straight "no" vote, Texas was one of those embarassingly few states where we had no representation in the U.S. Senate casting a vote to help stop the dramatic, devastating effects of climate change. Someone tell Cornyn what to think -- he wants to support the environment and not play politics, yet receive over a million dollars in one election cycle and refuses to even bother voting on the most important legislation on climate change our country has ever seen. Dump Cornyn - elect Rick Noriega to the U.S. Senate! |
