State Sen. Garrett Mason, in defending the choice of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency (Maine Voices, Jan. 5), notes that Pruitt remarked that the EPA is an important agency that plays a vital role in protecting our environment, and that he had reached an agreement to enhance water quality of the Illinois River. All well and good. What Sen. Mason neglected to mention was Pruitt’s campaign against the EPA’s regulation of carbon dioxide emissions.
The connection between CO2 and the climate changes we are observing is now beyond debate. Nevertheless, Scott Pruitt this year wrote in National Review, “Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind.”
He sent letters drafted by energy lobbyists, on Oklahoma state stationery, to the EPA and other government agencies. And he led a lawsuit against the EPA to gut the Clean Power Plan.
Given Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to greatly shrink, or even dismantle the EPA, it’s not hard to see why he would pick Mr. Pruitt for the job. Those of us, though, who are concerned about climate change, and the rising sea levels and warming waters we’re observing in Maine, should hope that there are Republican U.S. senators, such as Susan Collins, who will recognize the danger and vote against Scott Pruitt’s confirmation.
Sen. Mason concludes his column with the statement “Most importantly, Scott Pruitt’s leadership at EPA will help Maine.”
That would not be the most important consequence of Pruitt’s confirmation. The termination of national efforts to limit climate change would permanently damage our state, our nation and our world.
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