Oregon Governor Seeks to Replace State Climatologist
Governor Ted Kulongoski (D-Oregon) says the state’s current climatologist must be replaced. “The man is an unbeliever in global warming. Having him in this position undermines my ability to convince the citizens that we must raise taxes, restrict travel, rein-in consumption and lead more regulated lives if we are to combat the global warming crisis.”
George Taylor, a professor at Oregon State University, has held the title of “State Climatologist” since being named to the post by the University in 1991. Taylor doesn’t dispute data that show global temperatures have increased over the past century. He maintains, though, that natural factors have played a bigger role than man in this trend.
Sen. Brad Avakian (D-Washington County) is sponsoring a bill that would allow the governor to appoint the state’s climatologist. “The notion that the state’s climatologist ought to be some ‘ivory tower’ academic is politically unacceptable,” Avakian said. “Global warming is too important an issue to be left to an unappointed scientist. We must have policy consistency. If the governor says there is global warming and man has caused it we can’t have some pointy-headed intellectual rocking the boat.”
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http://www.azconservative.org/Semmens1.htm
It's clear to me that Oregon needs to replace the Governor and leave the State Climatolgist where he is.