Hutchison Takes Head-in-the-Hot-Sand Approach to Climate Bill

by: Citizen Andy

Thu Sep 10, 2009 at 00:55 PM CDT

Senator Hutchison (who you might have heard is running for governor), published an op-ed last week in a couple of Texas papers about how the ACES Bill would cripple Texas.  We've pushed back, and actually got something printed in one of those old-timey-newspaper thingies in one of the papers that ran her op-ed, the Round Rock Leader.  (I know, quaint-- right? newspapers?  Who reads those anymore?  < end sarcasm>)

Have a read here  for the whole thing, or if you're in North Austin or WillCo, go pick up a Round Rock Leader.  I've posted an except below:

United States Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison takes a head-in-the-hot-sand approach to climate change that will get Texas burned and drive tens of thousands of new jobs elsewhere ("Cap and Trade is No Good For Texas," Aug. 27 Leader). She misses the mark on energy policy, using discredited industry statistics to drum up fear about a Cap and Trade policy that represents just a small portion of the initiatives proposed in the energy bill that passed the House of Representatives in July.

She fails to acknowledge that the bill includes provisions for renewable energy and energy efficiency - the real solutions to climate change. Hutchison's solution is no solution at all: more oil, more coal and more nuclear, with absolutely no coherent policy on how to lower energy costs and find alternatives to dwindling resources.

America is faced with the worst economic crisis in generations, Sen. Hutchison is turning away opportunities to create new jobs while slavishly clinging to the talking points of the oil industry.

Energy Action - The Truth for Everyone

by: Austin MoveOn

Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 00:15 PM CDT

When:  5:30 to about 7:00 PM

Who:  MoveOn members and any like-minded individuals who are tired of the same tripe from conservative talking heads and their supportive media.  Kids are welcome!  This is a great opportunity to show them what activism really means.

Agenda:  we will be gathering near Senator Cornyn's office, using the intersection of two one-way streets and a busy sidewalk at getting-out-of-work time to educate the public on the myths being propagated by those opposed to a green energy economy.  We will have several visuals to include large signs depicting 100 new coal-fired energy generation plants allowed by the recently-passed American Clean Air and Security (ACES) Act.  It  passed the House by a vote of 219 to 212, but was so watered down by both Democratic and Republican Congressmen, that it barely defends our environment and hardly makes a dent into the joblessness in Texas and the country.

One particularly onerous provision is that this bill allows the construction of up to 100 new coal-fired energy plants in the future.  There is no such thing as "clean coal," and these plants will only contribute to the environmental mess we are presently in.

You can also help by handing out our recently-developed informational flyers to passersby and motorists.  These flyers take the more in-your-face, false statements that attempt to convince people that a green energy economy is too costly and counter-productive for our country and present the truth from past studies and scientists and economists about what the real effect will be if we don't do anything.  

Please join us.  We are inviting the press to a release of this document and want Austin to understand the stakes in not doing anything.  We can't allow Texas' and our country's economy and environmental future to be determined by Big oil, Dirty coal and the Senators and Representatives they buy with their political contributions.

Please sign up using the following link:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/ev...

Thanks so much for your support, and we'll see you out on Thursday.

Bill Hamm
Austin MoveOn Council Coordinator

Texas Delegation provides key swing votes on ACESA Climate Bill

by: Citizen Andy

Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 07:24 PM CDT

The US House of Representatives passed HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, sometimes referred to as the Waxman-Markey Bill, or ACES, by a vote of 219-212.  A majority in the House of Representatives in 218 votes.

While I wish I could say this vote went along party lines, it did not.   8 Republicans (none from Texas) voted for the bill, while an amazing 44 Democrats voted against President Obama, the environment, and green jobs (including three from Texas). 

These Dems should be whipped and whipped hard.  The consensus in the enviro community was that this bill was watered down and wouldn't meet the promise of a truly great energy and climate bill. But it would be the best we could get.  The closeness of the vote shows that every compromise literally had to be made to get any climate bill passed.

As for our Texas delegation, we have good news and bad news. (more after bump)

Visit to Henry Cuellar's office in support of strengthening ACES

by: Blue_in_Guadalupe

Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 11:25 PM CDT

We all gathered to show our support a stronger clean energy bill. Mr. Gonzales promised to pass our request to the Congressman. I asked him to please have the Congressman get back to us on our request and he promised would. I reminded Mr. Gonzales that this was our third visit about this issue and it should be taken as a measure of our commitment to this issue and we want to see real action on our agenda. We won't really know if we have any impact for some time to come so we'll have to maintain pressure by continuing to contact Congressman Cuellar. I urge you to contact Congressman Cuellar by phone or mail.

The Honorable Henry Cuellar

336 Cannon H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
phone: 202-225-1640
fax: 202-225-1641