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 4th 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.”
