Learn from South Carolina’s mistakes on climate change
Online 10/9/15 Print
10/10/15
In
2010, South Carolina Republican Bob Inglis lost his bid for re-election to the
House of Representatives in part because he spoke out about the need to address
climate change. For that reason, Mr. Inglis was this year’s recipient of the
John F. Kennedy Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award, given to a
public servant who takes a principled but unpopular position.
This
week, as they struggle with historic rainfall and flooding, many South
Carolinians may be wishing they had elected Mr. Inglis instead of his
short-sighted opponent. By heeding climate science, Mr. Inglis might have
ensured that the state was better prepared for extreme weather. Equally
important, he would have have advocated for Congressional action on climate
change.
As
we Californians cope with mega-fires and the hottest and driest three years in
12 centuries, we can learn from South Carolina’s mistake. Let’s find out what
our members of Congress think and are doing about climate change. Locally,
constituents of Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, Tom McClintock and Devin Nunes can
urge them to support the Republican-sponsored Gibson resolution (HR 424), which
calls for Congressional action on climate change.
All
politicians want to be on the right side of history. This is their
chance!
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