By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday, President Barack H. Obama (D) announced in a speech at Georgetown University that he was implementing tough new regulations on so-called “green house gases” by executive order without passing any new regulations through the U.S. Congress, which has steadfastly opposed this extreme environmentalist agenda. Republicans in Alabama were quick to announce their displeasure.
Congresswoman Martha Roby (R) said, “It seems President Obama’s renewed global warming push is getting a ‘cool’ reception as details trickle out. Probably because many of us know that the last this weak economy needs is more job-killing energy regulations. And the last thing families need is a higher power bill, increased food prices, and more pain at the gas pump.”
Congressman Spencer Bachus (R) from Vestavia said in written statement, “Americans cannot afford to pay more for electricity and gasoline right now. President Obama’s attempt to avoid Congress and impose his climate change agenda by regulatory decree is bad policy and bad for the democratic process. The truth is that we can have a balanced strategy that meets our growing energy needs and protects the environment, but the President remains fixated on a ‘tax and regulate’ approach. In the meantime, projects important to employment and energy security – like the prompt construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and the further development of nuclear energy and clean coal – continue to languish under this Administration.”
Speaker of the Alabama House Mike Hubbard (R) from Auburn said on Facebook, “Time and time again, President Obama has bypassed Congress and the American people on important policies by issuing executive orders. Today, the President announces executive orders that will result in more job killing regulations set to cripple industry in Alabama.”
U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R) from Alabama challenged President Obama on the science behind so-called ‘global warming.’ Sen. Sessions said in a written statement,
“To promote his global warming agenda, the President has stated that ‘temperature around the globe is increasing faster than was predicted even 10 years ago.’ He repeated this claim just a few weeks ago. This is a specific, technical assertion that can be tested in light of actual data. For more than seven months, I have been waiting for EPA to respond to a very simple request: provide an EPA chart comparing actual global temperatures with the official predictions that were made a decade ago. But EPA won’t provide this data. The American people deserve to know if the President has the facts straight, particularly as EPA presses ahead with zealous regulations that will drive up the price of electricity and make it harder for American workers to compete in the world economy. Before the President adds new burdens on American families and workers in an effort to curb a threat of rising global temperatures, shouldn’t he and his Administration produce the data supporting his contention that temperatures are increasing faster than predicted over ten years ago? This is important because published data suggest otherwise.”
Specifically, Sen. Sessions cited a recent study in the ‘Economist’ showing that there has been no global warming in the last ten years. Sesssions joined other Senators in a letter demanding proof from EPA that global warming actually exists.
Rep. Roby wrote on Facebook, “One of President Obama’s science advisers told the New York Times today that ‘a war on coal is exactly what’s needed.’ This is more than a ‘war on coal’ – it is a war on American families and businesses who would be crushed by costly, job-killing regulations. I’ll join my colleagues on the House floor tonight to discuss affordable energy and how more regulations can cost American families and businesses. I still want to hear from you about how higher power bills, increased food prices, and more pain at the pump will affect your family or business.”
Alabama will be one of the states hit hardest by President Obama’s unilateral harsh new regulations as the state is filled with bountiful coal reserves and Alabamians rely on affordable power from coal fired power plants.
“Global Warming” or “climate change” is not an issue that registers with most Americans. Poll after poll shows that Americans do not consider this among the top ten problems facing the country, but President Obama is rewarding environmental extremists in his base, despite the fact that these policies will likely cost many Americans their jobs and will further hamper an economy that is already struggling under the weight of massive government regulations. More than 5,000 Alabamians work in the coal business.
This past spring was the sixth coolest in Alabama history.
