Meet Paul Ryan
Al Gore, Reader Supported News
Paul Ryan introduces his controversial budget recommendations on Capitol Hill, 04/05/11. (photo: AP)
aul Ryan, Mitt Romney's new running mate, has a history of anti-climate science statements and votes, according to Brad Johnson:
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Mitt Romney's vice-presidential pick, is a virulent denier of climate science, with a voting record to match.
A favorite of the Koch brothers, Ryan has accused scientists of engaging in conspiracy to "intentionally mislead the public on the issue of climate change." He has implied that snow invalidates global warming.
Ryan has voted to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from limiting greenhouse pollution, to eliminate White House climate advisers, to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from preparing for climate disasters like the drought devastating his home state, and to eliminate the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E).
He has also said there is "growing disagreement among scientists about climate change and its causes."
In addition to his opposition to meaningful action to reduce global warming pollution, Paul Ryan's budget called for "drastic cuts in federal spending on energy research and development and for the outright elimination of subsidies and tax breaks for wind, solar power and other alternative energy technologies."
Solving the climate crisis requires political leadership that recognizes the serious reality of global warming and fights for policies that move us toward a clean energy economy, not backward.