Why does Sierra Club want to fix the Senate?
Why is America's largest environmental group supporting Senate filibuster reform? Sierra Club recently emailed its members with six reasons why tree-huggers should call their Senators in support of changing the Senate rules.
Reason #6: Because Senate rules are as outdated as Ebenezer Scrooge's labor practices.
Reason #5: Because laws that pass the Senate are more watered down than your office party's eggnog.
Reason #4: Because it's cheaper to fix the Senate than to buy a new one, though it is for sale (thanks Citizens United!)
Reason #3: Because solutions to America's most pressing problems shouldn't sit on the shelf for months like Aunt Millie's fruitcake.
Reason #2: Because the Senate moves slower than the airport security line during the holidays.
The email goes on to give a serious explanation of why this is an environmental issue.
Our nation used to be able to move forward on policies to protect clean air and water. But today, we only see outrageous obstruction, increasing gridlock, and backroom dealing that help corporate polluters and special interests while selling out regular Americans.
Sierra Club supports the Fix The Senate Now coalition, which is urging Senators to change the rules at the start of the next session. As a Sierra Club member, it's gratifying to see the organization confront what has been a major source of frustration.
On the positive side, President Obama did more to protect the environment and slow climate change during his first two years than Bill Clinton did in two terms combined. Successes like improving car fuel economy, investing in renewable energy, efficiency projects in the stimulus bill, Cash for Clunkers, beefing up EPA regulations, and building high-speed rail are arguably enough to already declare Obama the greatest clean energy President in American history. After mentioning clean energy in every major speech (including his address to Congress about health care) Obama helped push a cap-and-trade bill through the House of Representatives.
Amidst the success of these past two years, the Senate brings the celebration to a halt, like finding a turd floating in the pool at your swim party. Their failure to vote on a climate change bill is bitterly disappointing.
Even a mediocre bill may have helped strengthen Obama's hand to negotiate a climate change treaty at talks in Copenhagen and Cancun. The lack of a vote on cap-and-trade left other nations wondering if any climate treaty could pass the Senate and whether the world's largest per-capita carbon emitter has the necessary resolve.
The Senate's refusal to act was a global epic failure. It's time to break out the pool skimmer and fix this mess.
This is yet another cross-posting from Democrats for Progress.