Up to now, it’s been assumed that a Presidential veto of such action would not easily be overturned, but that may not be the case. Senator Bingaman of New Mexico has expressed doubts about the prospects for upholding a veto: “”I think the votes are there to uphold a presidential veto, if it comes to that,” [Sen. Jeff] Bingaman [D-NM] said. “But I’m not certain.” ( http://www.powergenworldwide.c… )
If the vote really is so close, Senator Brown’s vote could be decisive, which given his past statements is worrying news except for those who deny or actually promote the climate catastrophe that we are now creating. Senator Brown campaigned on opposing cap-and-trade. Once in office, it turned out that he also opposed EPA regulation. ( http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp… )
In a profoundly inaccurate op-ed in the Cape Cod Times he justified his vote on the grounds that EPA action would hurt small business. ( http://www.capecodonline.com/a… ) Getting all folksy Brown focused on the hardship that regulation would cause to small farmers and restaurant owners. “The bottom line is that we cannot have every restaurant owner or small farmer worried about the costs of complying with new carbon dioxide emissions restrictions.” This statement was astonishing in its complete distortion of reality. The truth: the EPA exempts the very same groups that he cites as an excuse for his vote. “Small farms, restaurants and many other types of small facilities would not be subject to these permitting programs.” http://www.epa.gov/NSR/fs20090… Whoever wrote Senator Brown’s Cape Cod Times apparently just pulled the examples and took out the words “would not be subject to….” Why is Senator Brown allowed to get away with this? Apparently, when you are the People’s Senator, there is no need to be accurate. Nor, is it necessary for the media to determine if what you are saying is accurate. And the beauty part: it helps you to rake in campaign money from David Koch even while the media and public celebrate your ‘independence.’
Senator Brown has already proven that he is willing to make up excuses to oppose action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and now he may really get the chance to destroy any effort to begin to curb the greenhouse gas emissions that are bringing accelerating global warming, climate change, and environmental devastation. The simple truth is that many other countries are unlikely to act unless the country that for a century emitted more Greenhouse gases than any other country is willing to at least join in the effort. That would be quite a legacy for Senator Brown.
