Politics & Government
Congressman Gets 'Award' for Denying Climate Change
League of Conservation Voters groups castigate Issa's "extreme anti-science views." He represents Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch, among other O.C. and San Diego County cities.
Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has been singled out for the "Climate Change Denier" award, given by members of the national, state and San Diego leagues of Conservation Voters.
In a statement Tuesday, the groups said Republican Issa was being recognized for "his extreme anti-science views, which put him at odds with 97 percent of scientists and a majority of the American people."
The facetious honor was bestowed Issa, who represents California's 49th Congressional District, as part of a national day of action to hold accountable those who deny climate change, a.k.a., "deniers."
“As chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressman Issa is not only denying climate change, but also actively impeding federal action, pledging to hold hearings on the ‘Politicization of Science,’ and calling for greater oversight of the EPA’s regulations of greenhouse gases,” said Livia Borak, president of the San Diego League of Conservation Voters.
“Issa voted against cap and trade and for the Keystone XL Pipeline. Even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, he continued to deny an increase greenhouse gas emissions and manmade climate change.”
In a report released last week, the California Environmental Protection Agency said climate change was having a significant and measurable impact on California’s environment, from the Pacific Coast to the Central Valley to the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The effects include decreasing spring snow runoff, rising sea levels along the California coast, shrinking glaciers, increasing wildfires, warming lakes and ocean waters, and the gradual migration of many plants and animals to higher elevations, environmentalists say.
The conservation voters groups also pointed to a quote on Issa's website, which Patch was unable to confirm:
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“One of the difficulties in examining the issue of the climate change and greenhouse gases is that there is a wide range of scientific opinion on this issue and the science community does not agree to the extent of the problem or the critical threshold of when this problem is truly catastrophic.”
Issa's office did not immediately respond to Patch requests for comment.
Issa's district includes Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, Oceanside, Del Mar, Camp Pendleton, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County, and San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch in Orange County.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
