What happened to Rep. Fred Upton?
Fred used to have reasonable ideas about climate disruption and potential solutions, that is, he accepted the reams of scientific data proving the disruptive nature of carbon emissions.
Fred backed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and supported the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Fossil Fred even said, “Climate change is a serious problem that necessitates serious solutions.“
My, how quickly a mind can change after $275,000 in campaign contributions from the electric and oil industries. I know chairing the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee is tempting, but an about-face so suddenly?
One year later and Fossil Fred is co-authoring a Wall Street Journal op-ed where he straight up denies that global disruption even exists:
Moreover, the principal argument for a two-year delay is that it will allow Congress time to create its own plan for regulating carbon. This presumes that carbon is a problem in need of regulation. We are not convinced.
In an op-ed focused on disparaging the EPA, Fred Upton quoted former President Ronald Reagan, saying “government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.”
Well, I have another one: Fred is not the solution to our problem, Fred is the problem. And if we don’t solve this problem soon the day after tomorrow may look like this:
Excited about President Barack Obama’s pledge calling for 80% of America’s energy to come from clean sources? Me too, but with Rep. Fred Upton so easily bought I wonder if the votes of his constituents carry as much weight as the dollars of his benefactors. Only time will tell.