Barbara Boxer Prioritizes Politics Ahead of the Facts
December 02, 2009
SACRAMENTO, CA – Deputy Campaign Manager for Communications Julie Soderlund issued the following statement in response to Senator Barbara Boxer’s decision to treat e-mails calling into question the science of global warming as a legal issue, instead of investigating further into the validity of the case for climate change.
“It is unfortunate that Senator Boxer isn’t as equally interested in making sure all the facts about climate change are known as she is in e-mail hacking. Ironically, in 2008 she was very interested in leaked information about climate change when it helped support her own views and demanded at the time that all the facts become known – without regard for the process by which they came out. So the question to the Senator today is: what has changed now that the facts may not be as helpful as you would like them to be? Don’t the American people still deserve to know all the facts no matter what they are?
“The bottom line is that, while the legal issues in this case merit a full investigation, Americans also deserve to know the truth, especially as Boxer continues to force job-killing ‘cap-and-trade’ legislation through the Senate.”
Boxer is only interested in leaked information when it helps support her own views
Boxer In July 2008: “We Know That The Administration’s Efforts Have Been About Covering Up The Real Dangers Of Global Warming And Hiding The Facts From The Public.” “‘We know that the administration’s efforts have been about covering up the real dangers of global warming and hiding the facts from the public,’ said Barbara Boxer, a Democratic senator and chairwoman of the environment committee, who received Burnett’s letter. ‘This cover-up is being directed from the White House and the office of the vice-president.’” (Elana Schor, “Cheney Tried To Alter Climate Change Testimony, Says Official,” The Guardian, 7/10/08)
Boxer Accused The Bush Administration Of “Covering Up The Truth About Global Warming By Interfering With Scientific Conclusions…” “Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said an investigation by Boxer’s committee uncovered what appeared to be an effort by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to cover up the truth about global warming by interfering with scientific conclusions by the EPA. ‘They act as if they’re above the law,’ Leahy said.” (Renee Schoof, “Boxer: In Squelched Document, Epa Says Global Warming Endangers Americans,” McClatchy-Tribune News Service, 7/24/08)
In July 2008, Boxer Reviewed Internal EPA Data On Climate Change And Called For Its Public Release: “The Document Belongs In The Hands Of The American People.” “The head of the Environmental Protection Agency told the White House in December that high levels of manmade heat-trapping gases are causing global warming and endanger the American people, Sen. Barbara Boxer said Thursday after she reviewed the EPA finding, which has not been made public. The Supreme Court ruled last year that if the EPA administrator finds greenhouse gases endanger the public, then the government must regulate them – a move the Bush administration opposes. ‘This is the strongest language I have ever seen or that you have ever seen, and they are trying to lock it away,’ said Boxer, D-Calif., who took notes on the document and shared them with reporters. ‘The document belongs in the hands of the American people.’” (Renee Schoof, “Boxer: In Squelched Document, Epa Says Global Warming Endangers Americans,” McClatchy-Tribune News Service, 7/24/08)
Boxer Reviewed The Document And Then Detailed Reporters On Her Interpretation Of The Findings. “Boxer said the key excerpt was: ‘In sum, the administrator is proposing to find that elevated levels of greenhouse gas concentrations may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public welfare. Bingo’ – that statement should trigger regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act according to the Supreme Court ruling, she said. ‘This is huge.’ EPA scientists examined the evidence on global warming and reported the findings after a long period of work, said Boxer, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which has oversight over the agency.” (Renee Schoof, “Boxer: In Squelched Document, Epa Says Global Warming Endangers Americans,” McClatchy-Tribune News Service, 7/24/08)
Boxer Called On EPA Officials To “Release Every Document” Related To The E-mail At The Heart Of The Controversy. “Boxer called on EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to release every document related to Burnett’s e-mail and greenhouse gas discussions. He also called on the agency to ‘immediately release a strong advance notice of proposed rulemaking on global warming emissions.’ If Johnson fails to comply, he should resign, Boxer said.” (Bruce Geiselman, “Bush Administration Accused Of Global Warming Cover-Up,” Waste News, 7/21/08)
Boxer Held A Press Conference In July 2008 To Accuse The Bush Administration Of A “Cover Up” On Global Warming. “The top Democrat on the Senate environment committee and a former EPA official are accusing the Bush administration of trying to cover up the real dangers of global warming. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chairs the environment committee, held a press conference July 8 in which she released a letter from Jason Burnett, a former EPA associate deputy administrator, in which he accused the White House of suppressing information.” (Bruce Geiselman, “Bush Administration Accused Of Global Warming Cover-Up,” Waste News, 7/21/08)
Boxer Accused The Administration Of Having “A Master Plan” To Do Little About Global Warming. “Boxer, meanwhile, described the Republican Bush administration’s actions as ‘part of a master plan.’ ‘The goal of the plan was to ensure that the EPA’s response to the Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA would be as weak as possible,’ Boxer said. In that court decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA had the ability to move forward under the Clean Air Act with regulation of greenhouse gas emissions if it concluded they pose a threat to human health or the environment. (Bruce Geiselman, “Bush Administration Accused Of Global Warming Cover-Up,” Waste News, 7/21/08)
Boxer Accused The Bush Administration Of A “Cover Up” On Global Warming. “Senate Democrat Barbara Boxer said ‘despite the Supreme Court’s finding that EPA was ducking its responsibility under the law to control global warming emissions, the Bush administration continues to block all action.’ Earlier, Boxer accused the Bush administration of a ‘cover-up’ aimed at stopping the EPA from tackling greenhouse gas emissions by editing testimony on global warming last year.” (Timothy Gardner, “EPA Says Climate Rules Are The Job Of U.S. Congress,” Reuters, 7/12/08)
