The Oil Spill & Missed Opportunities, So What Now Congress? from SOJO

HERE is a call to action from Sojourners on the failure of the Senate to pass clean energy and climate change legislation. I have included my letter to Sens Warner and Webb of VA, click here to find your senator (and how much they have received from big oil, thank you True Majority) and please participate in the actions by both organizations.

http://www.truemajority.org/site/oilspill/money.php?state=
 
A massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and a devastating, massive oil spill in China – you would think the world’s two largest polluters, and U.S. legislators, would be getting the message: It’s time to move beyond dirty fossil fuels.

Thanks to your support, Sojourners’ members made this statement loud and clear last week – sending more than 17,000 letters to Congress asking for investment in new, clean energy sources; smart regulation of pollution (like carbon); and aid for and accountability to the Gulf.

Seems like they only heard half of our message.

Early this week, Senate majority Leader Harry Reid announced he would schedule a vote on a bill that would provide for some helpful and needed support in the Gulf region (such as expanding BP’s liability cap, fixing the regulatory system for oil and gas drilling, and investing in conservation), and would even support some small investments in a new energy economy (like incentives for green home building). 

Missing in this legislation? A clear commitment to move our country away from fossil-fuel dependency, to fight climate change, and to set a renewable energy standard. Send a message to your senators, click here

 http://go.sojo.net/campaign/oil_climate_disappointed?rk=Vd4BQknaODFhE

The reasons for the anemic, short-sighted bill should cause us concern: lack of political will – fueled by election-year politicking – and lack of courage to take the tough votes that will be opposed by the oil and gas industry.

This oil spill was a giant wake-up call to our nation, but it seems our leaders are still asleep. So while Congress takes the easy way out in the short term, we’ll all continue to face the long-term consequences.
Ask your senators What Now? click here

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/oil_climate_disappointed?rk=Vd4BQknaODFhE


What is their excuse for missing a key opportunity to set our country on a new energy future? To take responsibility for our role in climate change? To encourage decreased energy consumption?

Send us the responses you receive at sojourners@sojo.net and we’ll publish them on our God’s Politics blog. Congress needs to know that people of faith take their commitment to caring for God’s creation seriously, and we expect them to do the same.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth, Rev. Jen, Duane, and the rest of the Sojourners policy team

MY LETTER TO SENS WARNER AND WEBB, BOTH DEMOCRATS FROM VIRGINIA
As a person of faith called to be a steward of God's creation, I am very disappointed that the Senate failed to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation before leaving for vacation.

The oil spill is a huge wake-up call, and we need to listen. I want to know: What is your plan for changing our nation's energy future? What is your commitment to clean energy and fighting climate change?

What now?

I am not pleased to hear that there was a lack of support for taking the tough votes that will place our nation on the path to a new energy and environmental future. I am not happy with the $35 billion tax break you approved for the oil companies, especially knowing you Sen. Warner have received $25,650 and you Sen. Webb have received $81,650 in contributions from these companies. It certainly seems your votes on this issue can be bought, and your allowing nothing to be done on clean energy and climate legislation seems to indicate who had the winning bid for your votes and it wasn't the people of Virginia or the nation.

Passing Gulf oil spill-related legislation is a band-aid - we must address the root causes of this crisis.

Please respond at your earliest convenience with your plans to address the energy and pollution crisis in our nation, including how you will use your position to gain support from other senators for comprehensive legislation.

I plan to share your response.