Unbelievable 'Dirty Air Act' Slated for Vote in U.S. Senate, June 10, 2010

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund has been following the “Dirty Air Act,” legislation proposed by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), which would strip the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.  This is a bald-faced affront to a landmark environmental law first enacted by President Richard Nixon in 1970. The vote on this could take place as early as Friday, May 21.

In preparation for this vote, the national LCV on Wednesday sent a letter to every senator, laying out why they should oppose Murkowski’s Congressional Review Act resolution. Chief among these is that her act would block all Clean Air Act limits on global warming pollution. It also would increase our dependence on oil, overturn sound science, endanger public health, and jeopardize long-overdue action to hold the biggest polluters accountable for their global warming pollution.

We are so concerned about this attack that we have in the past asked our members and supporters to call Sens. Levin and Stabenow to demand that they work to halt passage of this bill. We continue to urge our senators to protect public health and the environment and support the transition to a clean energy economy by voting NO on the Murkowski resolution.

As an accountability organization holding federal legislators responsible for their votes on the environment, the national LCV produces an annual Scorecard similar to the one produced by our sister organization, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. The national LCV is strongly considering including this vote in its 2010 Scorecard.