Inhofe vows to continue boycott of climate bill

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau - 11/4/2009


WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe vowed Tuesday to continue leading a Republican boycott on a sweeping climate change bill and force Democrats to allow a complete economic analysis of the measure.

Declining to say exactly how, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said she plans to move ahead with the bill.

The one-day impasse that kept all but one Republican out of the hearing room appeared to be moving into its second day Wednesday as both sides insisted committee rules were on their side.

At issue is what kind of business the committee can conduct without at least two Republicans present.

"Nothing has changed,'' Inhofe, R-Okla., told reporters late Tuesday afternoon. "We want the analysis."

He dismissed Democrats' claims that the analysis performed on the previously passed House bill represented a good beginning for the Senate bill along with the additional review on its different provisions.

Inhofe also said any attempt by Boxer to move a bill out of the committee would set the type of precedent that could come back and haunt Democrats.

"You are destroying the integrity of the committee system,'' he said.

In a separate press conference, Boxer conceded her committee has found itself in an unusual position.

"I am very sad about that,'' she said.

Still, Boxer was unwilling to concede defeat and suggested the committee will be able to follow its own rules and move the bill.

She declined to explain how that could happen.

In addition to the impasse over what exactly the committee rules allow at this point, Inhofe and Boxer have basic disagreements over the need for the bill by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., designed to reduce pollution, create clean energy jobs and protect U.S. security.

Boxer believes it is urgent for the U.S. not only to address global warming at home but take the lead in doing so for the world.

In an address to a joint session of Congress earlier Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue of climate change, citing the threats caused by rising sea levels and global temperatures.

Merkel said an agreement addressing those issues must be reached next month at a major climate conference in Copenhagen.

Inhofe, the committee's top Republican, is perhaps the most vocal global warming skeptic in Congress. He has called global warming the biggest scientific hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.



Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Check It out, Tulsa (11/3/2009 4:30:46 PM)
Regardless of the reality of risk...the world is moving on toward a greener lifestyle and sustainable products and energy. We will have to move quickly to do the same or become obsolete in the global marketplace. Our leading world power status was attained by being first in development and invention of the things we now take for granted, that make the planet more comfortable. The rest of the world has already come to terms with the need for developing environment friendly energy and products. We are still stuck on stupid while they are already developing and cornering the market in these areas. Even if the planet is not in danger, our economic health is coughing and wheezing and we could in twenty years be considered a third world country if we do not get these idiots out of the path of scientific research and progress.

Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (11/3/2009 10:34:47 AM)
You mean to tell me that the people elected to serve us haven't completed any type of economic impact study of this legislation?

Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (11/4/2009 8:51:26 AM)
The Europeans would have conducted an economic study of the impact of this legislation. Isn't that our new national policy barometer? Passing legislation willy nilly with no regard for the main street working man is pretty typical of this congress. And only a hick senator from Oklahoma has the stones to stand up to these Washington aristocrats.

Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (11/4/2009 9:11:23 AM)
2ndjoyce- I'd like to know what the economic consequences of this legislation will be, since it is unlikely to have a measurable impact the climate.

Angry Citizen!, Bluejacket (11/4/2009 10:08:04 AM)
Sanity- There are consequences to the "green movement". Environmental regulations placed on american farmers may raise the price of food in american supermarkets only by a small percentage, but people living in an impoverished country that relies on US agricultural grain exports will really feel it.

Sand In My Shoes, Tulsa (11/3/2009 2:43:32 PM)
fredsdad said it best, I agree.

AB in BA, Broken Arrow (11/3/2009 11:09:25 AM)
So, because some of you don't believe in global warming, are we to continue to pollute the earth? Should nothing be done about conserving the only earth we have? Do you not see what damage has already been done?

Scott Smith, Tulsa (11/3/2009 10:48:38 AM)
Since he can't get them to prove the science, he may as well fight the funding and the bill itself. Thanks Jim for fighting this monstrosity that is sure to hurt our economy, make little impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and will force us to play on field tilted against us when other countries have little or no restrictions. Why can't the global war...er, climate change nuts just get on board with nuclear?

Scott Smith, Tulsa (11/3/2009 2:32:42 PM)
Book marking the comments so I don't have to re-read the liberals fear of the sky falling when I return later. :)

Scott Smith, Tulsa (11/3/2009 5:05:13 PM)
So, let's say I cave in and agree with everyone, global warming is happening and must be stopped. How does taxing the hell out of only American businesses help this? The big polluters will just buy credits from (most likely shell) companies that won't use their credits. Why not go to nuclear energy? It will power all those cute little electric cars without having to create electricity through coal. It will power our homes without bad emissions. It will relieve us of the grip foreign nations have on us with oil. We could switch to natural gas for cars in the future, which we have an abundance of, and use current reserves for what we have now. Why must we tax to solve every problem?

oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/4/2009 7:49:26 AM)
What a bunch of mike toast idiots, Just ask the steel mill workers in SandSprings, all forced out of jobs, and all other in the Country without work.Dang nice air we got, as we live in poverty, and starve to death, All them folks back north and up east, dont have a clue, how things are here in Oklahoma, so dont feed the fish get some sharp hooks.

zzx375, BA (11/3/2009 11:11:06 AM)
"Oklahomans want more info on why this guy is so CLUELESS and HOW he gets re-elected every term. Seriously, many of us in Oklahoma can't stand this guy or his politics. " And he is such a pariah, so bad, he gets re-elected.

zzx375, BA (11/3/2009 11:11:51 AM)
"Inhofe and Coburn. The only question is which is dumb and which is dumber. We know both are idiots." So when are you going to run in their stead?

Sanity, Broken Arrow (11/4/2009 9:46:45 AM)
AB in BA asks: "So, because some of you don't believe in global warming, are we to continue to pollute the earth?" Answer: Global warming and pollution are different issues. Although global warming has not yet been scientifically proved, the oceans are rising. Sounds like a nobel effort, but we are told that this is caused by natural causes - with small effect from human causes such as deforestation and industries in other countries. Further damage to our economy is not presently justified in this false hope. For many years we have been fighting polution and cleaning up past sites. We can step up and improve this without power-grabbing,unfair international agreements. "Should nothing be done about conserving the only earth we have? Do you not see what damage has already been done?" Answer: Yes, we see polluted air, streams, and industry sites, etc. But the answser to this is not cutting off water to Central Valley to save a small fish - bankrupting farmers and shutting down our major food producing fields. It doesn't require international measures - which exclude China, etc.

Few Clothes, America (11/4/2009 8:51:08 AM)
Gore is continuing to gorg on red mean and his farts can't be helping the ozone and global worming. Worming intentionally misspelled.

Rocky Frisco, Tulsa (11/3/2009 11:47:00 AM)
I don't agree with all of Inhofe's issues, but he's spot on with this one. With sell-outs like Obama, Pelosi and Reid doing their best to destroy what's left of our formerly great nation, Jim shines like a beacon of good sense on this issue.

calloy, T-town (11/3/2009 4:16:22 PM)
stupid is as stupid does

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/4/2009 12:07:25 AM)
yourkidding, I need some help in understanding one point. Is it possible to mix asphalt with a compound that when applied reflects and fades asphalt white?

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/4/2009 12:13:14 AM)
If they were open minded. There would be a place at the table for us. WE may not be served wine or drink. But at least a spot at the table.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/4/2009 12:17:53 AM)
Instead of petroleum based black asphalt, is it possible to coat black top to make it white when applied. I don't mean painting it. But some type of chemical mix or compound that turn the stuff white.

Ayo, T-Town (11/4/2009 7:00:06 PM)
For someone with the classless integrity of Inhofe to dare use the word integrity is a joke. Something of Inhofe's past 'integrity' with bills and committee's. In 2005 Inhofe attached a rider to the 286 billion highway bill. That rider was specific to environmental 'treatment as a state' and was only specific to Oklahoma tribes. Integrity?? What Inhofe did was to attach the rider after the bill had already been through the house, but he attached it as a last minute deal before it went to Congress. What's more the rider should have followed the normal protocol which would have been take it before the Indian Affairs Committee. He didn't. He really ticked of Senator McCain for usurping the protocol. I loath this thing we call a man. Loath him. Someone should tell Inhofe he's not doing himself any favors by using a 30 year old photo. If you look at him today you can see he's just a very, very pale, old pock-faced ugly man.

Ayo, T-Town (11/4/2009 7:01:48 PM)
RJMosk, the people who keep re-electing him are the same bigoted fools who actually believe in what this idiot promotes. Oklahoma is full of fools.

Justun, tulsa (11/3/2009 11:48:01 AM)
2ndjoyce, BA (11/3/2009 11:37:33 AM) Like Beck? Amen Joyce, Amen! You hit the nail on the head...

Zoltar, Boltar (11/3/2009 10:46:46 AM)
Thank you Paprika for being the voice of reason in this thread! This bill will only drive America faster into bankruptcy and the libs are rushing to get it done before we vote their butts out of office! It will be the biggest scam ever perpetrated on the American public; the Bernie Madoff scandal pales in comparison!

Zoltar, Boltar (11/3/2009 11:26:13 AM)
TK1, give it up, the libs are loony and won't listen! If the most liberal newspaper in all of America is saying bad things about Al Gore, then you'd think they would at least read about him. They most definitely have a problem with hearing the truth!


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