SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
On Climate, America's Least-Respected Lawmakers Come to Defense of Most-Hated Corporations
House Republicans request documents from green groups and attorneys general related to the effort against fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil
May 19, 2016
Republicans on the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee are going after attorneys general and green groups nationwide for their unprecedented effort to investigate and prosecute climate criminals.
A group of 13 Republican committee members on Wednesday sent letters to 17 attorneys general and eight environmental organizations--including 350.org, Greenpeace, and the Union of Concerned Scientists--claiming the effort amounted to a violation of climate deniers' First Amendment rights.
"The committee is concerned that these efforts to silence speech are based on political theater rather than legal or scientific arguments, and that they run counter to an attorney general's duty to serve 'as the guardian of the legal rights of the citizens' and to 'assert, protect, and defend the rights of the people,'" the letter stated.
The lawmakers also requested documents related to the effort of the self-proclaimed "Green 20" (G20) to go after fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil, which spent decades fueling public skepticism about climate change and actively working to suppress scientific data that global warming was caused by human activity.
The G20 announced in March it would go after "high-funded and morally vacant forces" that have stymied efforts to combat climate change.
"Fossil fuel companies that deceived investors and consumers about the dangers of climate change should be, must be held accountable," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said at the time, noting the "troubling disconnect between what Exxon knew, what industry folks knew, and the company and industry chose to share with investors and the American public."
On Wednesday, Greenpeace executive director Annie Leonard responded to the letters stating, "America's least-respected politicians have now courageously stepped up to defend one of America's most-hated corporations from scrutiny. If these Representatives, who have historically low approval ratings, think they're somehow helping Exxon's public image with this nonsense, then they need to take some time away from lobbyist mixers and meet the people."
"If Exxon knew its work made climate change worse and hid this information for profit, it should be held accountable, not protected by elected officials who are there to represent the American people, not corporations," Leonard said. "Since 1999, these 13 elected officials have been paid millions in campaign contributions from coal, oil and gas companies, so this letter is more proof that the system works--for corporations."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Republicans on the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee are going after attorneys general and green groups nationwide for their unprecedented effort to investigate and prosecute climate criminals.
A group of 13 Republican committee members on Wednesday sent letters to 17 attorneys general and eight environmental organizations--including 350.org, Greenpeace, and the Union of Concerned Scientists--claiming the effort amounted to a violation of climate deniers' First Amendment rights.
"The committee is concerned that these efforts to silence speech are based on political theater rather than legal or scientific arguments, and that they run counter to an attorney general's duty to serve 'as the guardian of the legal rights of the citizens' and to 'assert, protect, and defend the rights of the people,'" the letter stated.
The lawmakers also requested documents related to the effort of the self-proclaimed "Green 20" (G20) to go after fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil, which spent decades fueling public skepticism about climate change and actively working to suppress scientific data that global warming was caused by human activity.
The G20 announced in March it would go after "high-funded and morally vacant forces" that have stymied efforts to combat climate change.
"Fossil fuel companies that deceived investors and consumers about the dangers of climate change should be, must be held accountable," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said at the time, noting the "troubling disconnect between what Exxon knew, what industry folks knew, and the company and industry chose to share with investors and the American public."
On Wednesday, Greenpeace executive director Annie Leonard responded to the letters stating, "America's least-respected politicians have now courageously stepped up to defend one of America's most-hated corporations from scrutiny. If these Representatives, who have historically low approval ratings, think they're somehow helping Exxon's public image with this nonsense, then they need to take some time away from lobbyist mixers and meet the people."
"If Exxon knew its work made climate change worse and hid this information for profit, it should be held accountable, not protected by elected officials who are there to represent the American people, not corporations," Leonard said. "Since 1999, these 13 elected officials have been paid millions in campaign contributions from coal, oil and gas companies, so this letter is more proof that the system works--for corporations."
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Republicans on the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee are going after attorneys general and green groups nationwide for their unprecedented effort to investigate and prosecute climate criminals.
A group of 13 Republican committee members on Wednesday sent letters to 17 attorneys general and eight environmental organizations--including 350.org, Greenpeace, and the Union of Concerned Scientists--claiming the effort amounted to a violation of climate deniers' First Amendment rights.
"The committee is concerned that these efforts to silence speech are based on political theater rather than legal or scientific arguments, and that they run counter to an attorney general's duty to serve 'as the guardian of the legal rights of the citizens' and to 'assert, protect, and defend the rights of the people,'" the letter stated.
The lawmakers also requested documents related to the effort of the self-proclaimed "Green 20" (G20) to go after fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil, which spent decades fueling public skepticism about climate change and actively working to suppress scientific data that global warming was caused by human activity.
The G20 announced in March it would go after "high-funded and morally vacant forces" that have stymied efforts to combat climate change.
"Fossil fuel companies that deceived investors and consumers about the dangers of climate change should be, must be held accountable," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said at the time, noting the "troubling disconnect between what Exxon knew, what industry folks knew, and the company and industry chose to share with investors and the American public."
On Wednesday, Greenpeace executive director Annie Leonard responded to the letters stating, "America's least-respected politicians have now courageously stepped up to defend one of America's most-hated corporations from scrutiny. If these Representatives, who have historically low approval ratings, think they're somehow helping Exxon's public image with this nonsense, then they need to take some time away from lobbyist mixers and meet the people."
"If Exxon knew its work made climate change worse and hid this information for profit, it should be held accountable, not protected by elected officials who are there to represent the American people, not corporations," Leonard said. "Since 1999, these 13 elected officials have been paid millions in campaign contributions from coal, oil and gas companies, so this letter is more proof that the system works--for corporations."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy