The American Spectator

Come Wednesday, one of the most forceful and articulate champions of skepticism toward the idea of man-made global warming could emerge as a Republican congressional candidate.

Arthur Robinson, who founded the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine (OISD), addressed the Heartland Institute’s Fourth Annual Climate Change Conference in Chicago on Monday where he warned against intrusive, big government policies that invoke environmentalism.

Should he win tonight’s primary, Robinson would go on to challenge Rep. Peter DeFazio, a long-time incumbent Democrat representing Oregon’s  4^th district. DeFazio has supported legislative schemes that are burdensome to business and to individual Americans, Robinson point out in his luncheon address delivered by way of video.

Robinson is perhaps best known for the Petition Project he organized that attracted the support and signatures of over 31,000 scientists who question the premise of man-made global warming.

“He [DeFazio] sold his vote to ObamaCare, he advocates higher taxes on energy, on electricity and on fuel,” Robinson said in his remarks. “We decided to put at least one scientists in Congress, and if we do we are going to rattle their cages.”

In the wake of “climategate,” and updated scientific observations, the debate over global warming alarmism is largely over, Robinson suggested. Even so, the political battle could still be lost, he warned.

A reloaded version of the “cap and trade” bill that passed the House last year was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate last week with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) leading the charge.

The battle over climate change legislation is part of a larger battle between the forces of big government and the advocates of economic freedom, Robinson said.

“This is a fight involving higher taxation and litigation that have been placed on backs of American worker and backs of industry and the backs of business to the point where they are unable to compete,” he observed. “But the political climate is changing and changing rapidly.”

In his talk, the scientist turned political candidate, also expressed concern over restrictive policies that have hampered the development of energy sources at home. Over the last 30 years, not a single nuclear power plant or oil refinery has been built, Robinson told  audience members.

“The only way back to peace and prosperity  is to roll back the  taxation, regulation and litigation that the House of Representatives has placed on the backs of the American people,” he said.

Over 70 of the world’s leading climate scientists, economists and policy makers are taking part in the conference, which concludes today.

Lord Christopher Monckton, one of the most prominent skeptics in the public policy arena, is scheduled to deliver the final presentation, which is entitled: “Global Warming: The Trojan Horse that Menaces Global Freedom.”

“The risks of global warming need to be weighed  against the risks of global warming policy,” Ben Lieberman, a senior policy analyst with the Heritage Foundation said.  “Given what we are learning about both, cap and trade  legislation would likely do far more economic harm than environmental good.”