Science gives way to science fiction at an ominous meeting of fossil fuel elites
By Philip Newell
Nexus MediaStories from Nexus Media
There was a climate denial event today, hosted by the Heritage Foundation, which has been described as Trump’s ‘shadow transition’ Team, and Texas Public Policy Foundation. The following is a first-person account of a day-long descent into madness.
There was a great diversity of speakers across the six sessions. There were speeches by men from Congress, men from think tanks, men from fossil fuel companies and lobby groups, men from science and a man of law addressing the gathering. Women were also allowed at the event, to give the introductory and dinner keynote addresses and allowed an occasional emceeing role.
I tuned in 10 minutes late thinking I’d catch the tail end of the introductory remarks. Instead, I was immediately greeted by Rep. Lamar Smith making an apology for Senator Mike Lee not being there — he was voting on something, apparently. Before long, Smith was bragging about the 25 subpoenas he’s issued as chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. In the 21 years prior, the committee had issued… one.
But then, he predicted that “there won’t be near as many subpoenas in the coming Congress.” Because when his fellow fossil fuel friends are running the show, what could he possibly want to investigate?
What he does intend to do, however, is force the EPA to violate privacy laws. He describes it as making sure the EPA makes the data on which it bases regulations public. All the data. Which would mean making private medical records public, violating HIPPA and other patient protection laws.
…(read more).
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