Archive for category JIm Matheson
Salt Lake Tribune Punishes Matheson for “Politically Expedient” Vote
Posted by Cliff Lyon in Energy, Environment, Global Warming, JIm Matheson, Utah Politics on May 22nd, 2009
Matheson is SUCH a chicken shit. Please show your support at PeacefulUprising.org
Matheson vote - Salt Lake Tribune
Vital energy bill deserves support
.Utah Rep. Jim Matheson was in a position he never wanted to be: He held a pivotal vote on the House Energy and Commerce Committee as it debated, and passed, a bill to promote clean energy and limit emissions of greenhouse gases. He had to step forward and be counted, do more than give lip service to concerns over global warming and a desire to encourage clean-energy technology and conservation.
But Matheson, with a foot in each camp as always, squandered this opportunity to stand up on these all-important issues and join Congress members seeking solutions. Along with only two other Democrats, he voted no.
Since Republicans on the committee were aligned against the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (only one voted for it), and all the more traditional Democrats supported it, that supposedly left political hybrids like Matheson holding the aces. And Matheson cast his with the GOP.
The act passed 33-25, so this vital bill will move forward to other committees and to the full House without Matheson’s support. That’s good for the country and, ironically, good for Matheson politically. But disappointing for Utah.
Matheson represents a district with heavily Republican pockets that depend on coal mining and coal-fired power plants where many believe global warming is either a hoax or overblown. By contrast, he claims to embrace climate science and says our dependence on oil must end.
Thursday he faced a day of reckoning. And he picked political expediency over science.
This legislation represents a policy shift from fossil fuel development to renewable energy. Utahns who care about air quality, the looming crisis of global warming, energy independence and Utah’s long-term economic health would like to know we have one congressman who shares these concerns. But Matheson chose instead to place coal, oil and gas interests ahead of his constituents’ and fear of change ahead of faith in American ingenuity.
Matheson says the target for reducing emissions (a 17 percent reduction below 2005 levels by 2020) is too “aggressive” and new technology may not be developed in time. We disagree. On the contrary, the target, a result of a committee compromise, may not be aggressive enough to mitigate global warming. We agree with him that electrical transmission systems must be updated and corn-based ethanol should be dumped. But these are not reasons enough to vote against the bill.
In the end, Matheson, yet again hedging his bets, failed Utah and the country.
Purple Utah: The Matheson Dilemna
Posted by Glenden Brown in Democracy, Democrats, JIm Matheson, Party Politics, This Blog on November 13th, 2008
McClellan Whacks Bush, White House
Posted by Cliff Lyon in George W. Bush, Impeachment, Iraq, JIm Matheson, Republicans, Utah Politics on May 28th, 2008
Washington County Growth & Conservation Bill: Still A Developer’s Dream?
Posted by Richard Warnick in Environment, JIm Matheson, Utah Politics on April 23rd, 2008
Hows That Surge Workin’ For Ya Mr. Bush?
Posted by Cliff Lyon in Fox Lies, George W. Bush, Iraq, JIm Matheson, Military Industrial Complex, Political Corruption, Proof Bush Lied on March 30th, 2008
Republicans Fading Fast
Posted by Cliff Lyon in 2008 Election, JIm Matheson, Republicans on January 20th, 2008
Crandall Canyon: Old Disaster, New Direction
Posted by Ken Schreiner in Chris Cannon, Conservatives, Dick Cheney, Economic Exploitation, Energy, Environment, Global Warming, JIm Matheson, This Blog, Utah Legislature, Utah Politics, Utah Pollution on August 17th, 2007
Congress Has Suspended the 4th Amendment
Posted by Richard Warnick in Civil liberties Infringement, JIm Matheson, National Politics, The Constitution, Wiretapping on August 5th, 2007
Nevada Democrat Senator Does More to Help Utah Than Our Own Republican Guys; Excuse Me, I Have to Take This
Posted by Ken Schreiner in 4th Estate (Media), Chris Cannon, Conservative Sell-Outs, Economic Exploitation, Energy, Environment, Global Warming, JIm Matheson, Republicans, This Blog, Utah Legislature, Utah Pollution on July 31st, 2007


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