WARREN ON TOP: Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Ann WarrenWatchdog: Thousands may be committing fraud to lower student loan payments Harris proposes B investment in historically black colleges Bernie Sanders, Frank Sinatra and income inequality MORE is outranking her progressive 2020 contender when it comes to winning climate focused voter’s support, according to a new poll out Friday.
For voters who say a Democratic candidates’ climate plans are “very important” in their choice, the Massachusetts Senator gathered 20 percent support compared to the Vermont Independent’s 16 percent.
The results of the Morning Consult tracking poll for the Sierra Club show Warren gaining a lead in the issue amongst voters who care deeply about the issue of climate change. The last poll in late June showed Sanders with a four point lead over Warren.
Former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenAl Sharpton calls for end to Democrats’ infighting: ‘The objective is Trump’ Harris proposes B investment in historically black colleges Bernie Sanders, Frank Sinatra and income inequality MORE remains the top option for climate focused voters with 30 percent of the support, according to the latest poll. Previously Biden had 37 percent support.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
Jay Robert InsleeThe Hill’s Morning Report — DOJ’s planned executions stir new debate 2020 Democrats speak out against DOJ death penalty decision 2020 Democrats double down on Trump attacks after Mueller hearings MORE, the Democratic candidate who has staked his platform largely on climate action, ranked less than one percent of the votes in either poll.
The swamp in the polls between Warren and Sanders come as the two progressive candidates are dueling it out in national polls for the second presidential likely behind Biden. Both candidates will also debate next week on the same stage, next to one another, for the second round of Democratic Debates.
Climate change is becoming an increasingly important issue for Democratic voters, will polls showing the issue ranking next to Healthcare and the economy.
See the poll.
Read the story.
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IT’S TAXING: Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are introducing competing bills that aim to put a tax on carbon.
The push to regulate greenhouse gas emissions come as both Democrats and Republicans face pressure from their constituents, and in some cases the fossil fuel industry itself, to regulate carbon emissions that lead to climate change.
Sen. Christopher Coons
Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsCarbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress Democrats pledge to fight Trump detention policy during trip to border Trump nominees meet fiercest opposition from Warren, Sanders, Gillibrand MORE (D-Del.), Rep. Francis Rooney
Laurence (Francis) Francis RooneyCarbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress The METRIC Act: Drug price transparency that the American people deserve Florida GOP rep seeks carbon tax to reduce pollution MORE (R-Fla.) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) all introduced carbon tax bills on Thursday that each take a shot at cementing the long tossed-around idea of a carbon fee. Those three bills join two other bipartisan measures proposing a carbon tax introduced earlier this year in the House and the Senate.
The influx of legislation is surprising some observers who have long called for action on climate change. They say they wouldn’t have believed a year ago that there would have been such a push.
“I can tell you from what I know is that we are worlds apart from the Congress that I left at the beginning of this year,” said Carlos Curbelo
Carlos Luis CurbeloCarbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress Democratic lawmaker pushes back on Castro’s call to repeal law making illegal border crossings a crime The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump, Biden go toe-to-toe in Iowa MORE, a former Republican congressman from Florida who lost his reelection bid last year.
Curbelo last year was the first Republican to introduce a carbon pricing bill in nearly a decade. He’s since joined Alliance for Market Solutions, a Republican-to-Republican-focused carbon tax coalition.
“During my four years I think we made a lot of progress on changing the culture to make it acceptable to discuss this challenge, to name it for what it is — but even then a lot of Republicans were not anxious to engage,” he said.
“Today, not just rank and file from moderate districts, but leading Republicans, senior Republicans are stepping out on the issue, making it clear that the debate should be over solutions, not over science or anything else of that nature, and for me it’s a sign of real progress.”
Coons’s bill with Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinCarbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress Graham threatens to change committee rules to pass asylum bill 2020 Democrats speak out against DOJ death penalty decision MORE (D-Calif.), the Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019, would start greenhouse gas fees at $15 per metric ton of carbon and gradually increase the fee over time.
It estimates the tax would bring in $12 billion in revenue, which would then be distributed in part as a rebate to low income families. A portion also would be used to invest in clean energy. The bill aims to reduce U.S. carbon emissions 55 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Rep. Jimmy Panetta
James Varni PanettaCarbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress Lawmakers introduce bill to block U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei Political world mourns death of Doris Day MORE (D-Calif.) has introduced a companion bill in the House. Coons had previously introduced a similar bill along with former Sen. Jeff Flake
Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeCarbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress Kyrsten Sinema calls to address veteran suicides, mental health needs in first Senate floor speech Flake urges Republicans to condemn ‘vile and offensive’ Trump tweets MORE (R-Ariz.) last year.
A second bill introduced by Rooney with Lipinski as a co-sponsor, the Stemming Warming and Augmenting Pay Act, would impose a $30 tax per metric ton of carbon. Revenues would be largely paid out to individuals through payroll taxes.
The tax would apply to fossil fuel producers and large industrial emitters and would reduce energy-related carbon pollution by approximately 42 percent by 2030. It would also bar new regulations on power plants as long as they meet the emissions targets set by the bill.
Read the full story here.
BEARS EARS LEFTOVERS: Democrats and environmentalists are fuming over Trump administration plans for Utah’s Bears Ears monument that would open remaining lands for development after drastically shrinking the protection area in 2017.
Under a plan posted to the Federal Register Friday, the administration would allow land to be cleared of brush and trees and open up land for roads or utility lines.
“This proposed management plan confirms what we already knew: the Trump Administration has no interest in protecting the thousands of cultural and archeological sites in Bears Ears Monument or in seriously consulting with tribes on how best to manage their sacred ancestral lands,” Rep. Ruben Gallego
Ruben GallegoLawmakers introduce bill to block U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by JUUL Labs – Trump attack on progressive Dems draws sharp rebuke Arizona Democrat: ‘To people like Trump I will never be American enough’ MORE (D-Ariz.) said in a statement.
“This plan recklessly weakens protections even for the land that remains in the monument, failing to protect important sites from threats like ATV use, looting, vandalism, and damage from target shooting,” he added.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump to host 9/11 first responders at victim fund bill signing next week Turkey is not the center of the world — but it has our attention Photo of Mexican National Guard halting crying migrant mother and child goes viral MORE‘s administration shrunk the scope of Bears Ears by about 85 percent early in his presidency, a move environmental groups are already challenging in court.
“If we win the legal fight to restore Bears Ears National Monument, this plan will just be 800 pages of wasted effort,” said Heidi McIntosh, an attorney with Earthjustice, which sued over the designation.
“Even in the parts of Bears Ears that President Trump left intact, he’s planning on putting destructive activities before the American public’s interests. Bears Ears is not the kind of place for chaining thousands of acres of forest or stringing up utility lines. These are wild, sweeping monument lands,” she added.
Bears Ears and another Utah monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante, had been at the center of a national debate over monuments and their permanence, fueled by an executive order from Trump that directed then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke
Ryan Keith ZinkeOvernight Energy: House Democrats offer rival to Green New Deal | Zinke clients include industries he regulated | Oil companies dealt blow in Rhode Island climate lawsuit Zinke’s client list includes industries he regulated at Interior: report Puerto Rican police fire tear gas at crowds protesting governor MORE to review dozens of previously created monuments.
Though the area is important to Western tribes and conservationists, many state leaders have long opposed the monuments. The Department of Interior tried to highlight local voices in a Friday release promoting the plan.
“These plans will provide a blueprint to protect the awe-inspiring natural and cultural resources that make this monument nationally significant, while enhancing recreational opportunities and ensuring access to traditional uses,” said Ed Roberson, Utah state director for the Bureau of Land Management, an agency within Interior.
But many have contended that shrinking the scope of the protected area of the monument does no such thing.
Read more about it here.
OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:
-Following federal announcement, Colorado lawmakers propose moving land management staff, the Denver Post reports.
-Utah’s groundbreaking outdoor recreation office becomes a model for new national network, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
-How climate change is hitting one of America’s most impacted coastal counties, Stateline reports.
ICYMI:
Stories from Friday…
-More than 60 media outlets commit to week of focused climate coverage
-Trump’s plans for development at Bears Ears monument sparks condemnation
-Judge cuts Roundup cancer case payout from $2 billion to $86 million
-Carbon tax shows new signs of life in Congress
