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Local Pagosa Springs News
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| OPINION: Dirty Air |
| Gavin Clark | 3/2/10 |
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| Back to the News Summaries |
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Lat week, Colorado health professionals spoke out against the “Dirty Air Act,” a proposal by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that would reverse 40 years of progress in cutting dangerous pollution. Murkowski’s Dirty Air Act would undermine the Clean Air Act and delay a much-needed legislative solution to address the threat carbon pollution poses to human health and the environment. Their voices echo those around the nation who fear the harmful ramifications if this ill-conceived measure passes the Senate.
This assault on the Clean Air Act would put public health at risk and reverse efforts to hold polluters accountable, reduce America’s dependence on dirty fuels, and jump-start a vibrant clean energy economy.
 Recent polling shows that there is overwhelming support among American voters for policies that limit carbon pollution and invest in clean energy sources. As the EPA has noted in its recent finding, carbon pollution is a danger to public health and welfare, because it will likely lead to more frequent and intense heat waves, more extreme weather events, more flooding, fire, and drought, increased insect and water borne disease, and harm to our food supply.
“Greenhouse gases are a key piece of air pollution, exacerbating its known harmful effects on human health, including lung damage and increases in deaths from heart disease," said Dr. Roberta Richardson of Colorado Physicians for Social Responsibility. "Just as doctors must address all contributors to a disease process, so must the EPA regulate all components of air pollution, including greenhouse gases, or the suffering of vulnerable populations will only increase."
Those who support this misguided scheme would have you believe they want to protect the air our children breathe and the water they drink. Yet at the same time, the policy they propose will gut the very law that provides such safeguards.
“A vote for the Dirty Air Act is a vote for more pollution, for protecting polluters, and against clean air. It is a vote that will move America backwards and roll back the progress we have made over the last 40 years,” said Lorri Park, programs director for Colorado Autism Society
Health professionals join a broad and diverse group of community leaders here in Colorado who believe comprehensive clean energy legislation is vital to creating jobs, enhancing our national security, and protecting the health of our people and the environment.
Instead of replacing the Clean Air Act with Murkowski’s Dirty Air Act, the Senate needs to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. |
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