Later On

From the Center for American Progress:

Yesterday, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled what Clean Air Watch President Frank O’Donnell called "a cynical Republican alternative to the clean energy jobs legislation being developed by committee Democrats." Barton maintains his plan is a "viable alternative to a mandatory cap and trade plan." Writing at The Wonk Room, O’Donnell explained that, in reality, Barton’s plan is "basically a PR stunt aimed at conning the public to stay stuck in the same dirty energy rut that is destroying our economy and environment." A summary of Barton’s plan includes plans to define both nuclear power and "advanced coal" technology as "renewable" sources of energy, preempt state authority to reduce climate-related emissions, and repeal the Supreme Court decision that said the Environmental Protection Agency could limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. As O’Donnell concludes, "While not quite ignoring the threat of climate change…[Barton's proposal] would guarantee that U.S. emissions would continue to increase without bound for the foreseeable future. … Barton is just blowing smoke: new subsidies for oil, coal, and nuclear, rollbacks of environmental standards, Orwellian language, and denial of the science of climate change. Wasn’t eight years of planetary and economic destruction enough?"