Dem: Climate deniers among ‘the greatest ignoramuses of all time’

A House Democrat said Thursday that history will be a harsh judge of lawmakers who refuse to acknowledge and fight climate change.  

{mosads}“I present this motion to recommit as a chance for this Congress to avoid the harsh light and judgment of the historians who will not hesitate to include us on their list of the greatest ignoramuses of all time,” Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) said on the House floor during an attempt to attach a provision recognizing climate change to an energy policy reform bill.

“To lump us in, without fear of contradiction, with the worst lantern-jawed simpletons of history, historians who will unmercifully tell our grandchildren and their grandchildren just how dumb we were if we do not take action to prevent damage to our climate.”

Cartwright’s motion failed on a party-line vote.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who introduced the underlying energy bill, said energy innovation is the best way to attack climate change, noting that American carbon emissions have fallen in recent years. 

“The world does face many challenges and risks and when it comes to climate change, we [Republicans] believe we need to take an economically reasonable and pragmatic approach,” he said. 

“To address climate as well as other risks, we support policies that will promote access to affordable, reliable energy that allows our communities to grow economically, to adopt to changes and to be resilient now and in the future.”

The House passed its energy reform bill 249-174 on Thursday. Lawmakers rejected another Democratic amendment to the bill that would have delayed its implementation until federal researchers studied its impact on carbon emissions.