Youth activists fill Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office, opposing the Dirty Air Act
Tuesday afternoon they came in a wave. The “Michigan Delegation”, as I called them, rolled in to the CEW office, having been awake since 3:30 am, but ready to get after it. We didn’t hold back.
After lunch these winners of the Consequence Organize to be Heard Challenge headed over to Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office. The Senator from Alaska is of course the author of the Dirty Air Act (the sponsor anyway, the bill itself was shown to be written by lobbyists).
The group filled Murkowski’s office, wearing surgical masks symbolizing the dangerous air Murkowski’s “Disapproval Resolution” will create. However, when a staffer said the Senator wasn’t available, then screamed at a participant not to shoot video with a Flip Video Cam, the group was directed to the Energy and Natural Resources committee room, a committee on which Murkowski serves. Other notable members include Maria Cantwell, author of the Cap-and-Dividend bill and former climate change legislation supporter John McCain.
That made it all the more beneficial that McKie Campbell, Republican Staff Director of the ENR committee, agreed to sit down with us to talk clean energy and climate legislation, as well as the Murkowski amendment.
One thing Campbell agreed with is that the Dirty Air Act is in fact slowing down the process, at least for the ENR committee, of achieving the comprehensive legislation we need. He made a special point to note how many businesses emit some level of carbon, creating worry about the effect of EPA regulation on the economy without investment in clean energy.
That is what we are asking for. It is time not only to cap carbon, but also to invest in our clean energy future. Campbell is right in his assessment that most businesses emit carbon, but do so on anywhere near the scale of our energy production, specifically coal-fired power plants.
Rev. Yearwood, Challenge winners and Flava of 93.9 WKYS bring bus tour to Black Eyed Peas concert.
It was a highly technical conversation that we had with Campbell, but a learning experience to talk with one of the integral parts of writing the policy we are working to see passed.
Which led to us heading out to do that work. A couple of hours later we were stationed outside of the Black Eyed Peas concert at the Verizon Center, along with Reverend Lennox Yearwood, of the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour, telling people about our big event at the Capitol Reflecting Pool tomorrow at 11:30.
The Challenge winners also got together with Flava of 93.9 WKYS and Rev. Yearwood to push the message outside the show. “We can do this together,” the Reverend said.
Tomorrow, along with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and all of the people with the Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour, our youth activists will stand in the shadow of our nation’s capitol, calling for comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation.
We know what is at stake. It’s our future.
