Posted on 07/19/2015 2:29:12 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker joined the crowded field of Republican contenders vying for the White House in 2016 on Monday, and immediately stands out for having one of the poorest records on environmental and climate issues, according to green groups and political experts.
Since taking office in 2010, Walker has dismantled several longstanding policies protecting wetlands and waterways, fast-tracked mining projects, fought climate action, slashed funding for dozens of state scientists and environmental education positions, and impeded development of wind energy in Wisconsin.
"He's one of the worst," said Heather Taylor-Miesle, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Action Fund, the political arm of the New York City-based green group. "His state record shows that he has little regard for the facts. All the things he's done, whether it is rolling back phosphorous pollution standards or deregulating frac sand, points to the big question of 'why?'"
Walker's campaign did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Walker has not officially stated whether he believes climate change is happening and caused by human activities, mainly the burning of fossil fuels. He is, however, a vocal critic of President Barack Obama's climate policies, arguing White House efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants would be "a blow to Wisconsin residents and business owners." In April, Wisconsin joined 13 other states in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protect Agency challenging its upcoming carbon regulations. Walker is also a signatory of the "No Climate Tax Pledge," which aims to stop legislative attempts to raise taxes to fight climate change.
"Gov. Walker makes it clear that he would block the Clean Power Plan, condemning millions of Americans to prolonged exposure to air pollution that can trigger asthma attacks and other serious ailments," said Daniel Weiss, senior vice president for campaigns at the League of Conservation Voters.
Walker has also helped transform Wisconsin into a critical player in the expansion of fracking nationwide through the production of "frac sand," a type of quartz sand that helps keep fractures open underground so oil and gas can be extracted more easily. Under his guidance, the number of frac sand mining, processing and transportation facilities in the state have increased from seven in 2010 to 135 today, a 20-fold increase. Walker's 2016-2017 budget cuts funding for the Department of Natural Resources, the state's environmental protection agency, by $24.5 million and eliminates 66 jobs, and he supported legislation that would limit local control of frac sand mining operations.
He has also appointed several high-ranking state officials critical of environmental regulation and climate action. Cathy Stepp, a former Republican state senator, owner of a construction company and Walker's 2011 choice for head of the state's DNR made news when she said her staff consists of "unelected bureaucrats who have only their cubicle walls to bounce ideas off of," and who "tend to come up with some pretty outrageous stuff that those of us in the real world have to contend with," according to Scientific American.
Some experts worry Walker's anti-environment agenda has created a hostile atmosphere for discussion of climate change in Wisconsin. The state is expected to face several severe climate impacts such temperature increases of up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century and heavier rain events. In April, Wisconsin officials voted to ban state employees who manage thousands of acres of forests from working on or talking about global warming. (The ban was eventually amended to prevent staffers from participating in climate advocacy, not all climate work, after a public outcry.)
Walker has polled favorably for months, consistently ranking second or third behind Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. Now that he is officially in the race, Walker could soon receive a windfall of money that could help solidify his position near the top. Fossil fuel billionaires and top conservative donors Charles and David Koch told donors in April that Walker was their top choice for a Republican nominee in 2016, according to the New York Times. The Koch brothers and their network of like-minded donors are expected to spend $900 million over the next two years to help conservative candidates around the country get elected.
Leftists hate freedom and they hate science that they can’t manipulate.
“If he’s the worst on environmentalists and their brand of Communism then he is my candidate.”
I was for Walker the minute I heard that he fired dozens of Wisconson state environmental protection agency workers ON EARTH DAY to save taxpayers money.
I’ve said it several times before and I’ll say it again. Walker is the one GOP candidate who can be counted on to defund the Left at every opportunity.
And that’s the key to beating them...taking away their tax-dollar sustenance. Everyone else freezes budgets or increases them less than inflation. Walker tries to zero them out when the money is just being used by the Left to harass honest, hard-working, taxpayers.
Under a President Walker, the EPA would see a massive budget cut, and the Department of Education might see a 100% cut. NASA would return to space work and abandon climate science, etc.
Walker is the only candidate who has cut much spending on regulators and other government interests. Those in state and local real estate interests work to prevent any new competition against crony/established businesses. They work to support “property values” (another interest using environmentalist fronts for regulations and fees against new, domestic competition and new, small, owner-builder projects) that cannot stand in an economy that is sorely lacking in manufacturing on U.S. soil.
It’s highly likely that all of the talker candidates will support the radical environmentalists and NIMBYs, at least on the state and local levels. They support all of the big spending government income and pension interests that use environmentalist fronts to cement their political and economic influence. They support getting as much federal pork to the government interests in their locales as they can get.
With his record as proof, Walker’s position against big spending is the only known position. We only hear talk from the others, and believing promises of such politicians is what got us in trouble so many times before.
It’s highly likely that there’s only one more chance to drastically cut spending and regulations at every level of government before default and collapse.
Truth is, vote in one of those talker politicians instead of Walker, and we, the skilled and forcibly idled, true private sector will win even more quickly. After the repudiations of debt and collapse, regulators and so many other real parasites with outrageous incomes at all levels will be deposed, done and politically silent.
Either way, we’ll win. Government spending will be cut one way or the other, with or without intentional efforts. It will be the easy way with Walker and a cooperative Congress, or it will be the hard way.
If it will be the hard way with default and repudiations of debt, no “preps” will save the socialists, federal, state and local, who brought us to this ugly economic situation by sucking the life out of the economy and preventing new, small manufacturing efforts on U.S. soil. Their offices will be closed.
Walker would be the easiest way for officious parasites, too.
Walker has been my first choice, (besides Sarah Palin) for 2016. But then watching him this week, I was disappointed. He has not come out very strong. But it is early. Hopefully he can build momentum.
Why yes. Didn’t you get the memo?
I’m very anti-climate, that’s why I use AC in the summer and heat in the winter.
His family was in real physical danger in 2011.
Climate “science” == climate pseudo-science.
That’s not fair. There’s some chance the Great Pumpkin exists.
My, Leftists are control freaks. They are so dangerous...and in danger.
Global Warming on Free Republic here, here and here
Was she in Mineral, Virginia on August 23, 2011?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.