Dem warns of ‘reckoning’ on climate change

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse gave the 100th speech in his weekly climate change series on Monday, saying that  there will be “a reckoning” on the issue.

“One day there will be a reckoning,” the Rhode Island Democrat said. “If we wake up, if we get this right, if we turn that ponderous balance of destiny in our time, it can be their reckoning. It does not have to be all of ours. It can be their shame; not the shame of our democracy.”

{mosads}Whitehouse said he has come to the Senate floor to discuss climate change each week since April 18, 2012.

“I decided to come to the floor every week the Senate is in session, to put at least my little light to work, to urge colleagues to wake up and take action,” he said.

Whitehouse added that he was not a “lone voice” on the issue, and lawmakers including Democratic Sens. Al Franken (Minn.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.) and Barbara Boxer (Calif.) came up to Whitehouse after his speech to congratulate him.

Boxer said that the Rhode Island Democrat has “shown through the weeks, the months, the years that all he’s going to do is a very simple thing, just come down here and tell the truth.”  

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), expected to be the next Democratic leader, added that Whitehouse “deserves a real moment of recognition.”