Fingering The Perps

Frank O'Donnell

April 07, 2006

It’s bad enough to read almost daily about the shrinking icebergs, endangered polar bears and other signs of global warming.

But a new report out this week ought to scare the heck out of anyone who cares about future generations and the state of the planet we may leave them. 

The report, published by Natural Resources Defense Council, Ceres and Public Enterprise Service Group, notes that electric power companies are already the biggest source of global warming pollution in the United States. What’s worse, the report notes those power company emissions are likely to increase significantly in the next 25 years unless we take decisive action to stop the trend. 

The report also projects that global warming emissions from the second biggest source—transportation—probably will increase as well.

But perhaps there’s a tiny glimmer of hope on that front. Here’s why:

In his recent plea-bargain agreement, former Tom DeLay aide Tony Rudy was forced to concede that he illegally “coordinated with the leadership staff of Representative #2” [DeLay] to oppose better vehicle standards ." Rudy was lobbying at that point for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. 

The car company lobbying no doubt will continue. But at least their champion, Tom DeLay, is gone.