Global Warming News

Charlottesville, VA – Representatives from Environment Virginia and the Virginia Organizing Project joined Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris and Councilor Holly Edwards in calling for Senator Mark Warner to support President Obama’s budget for 2010. The groups are particularly concerned with protecting provisions for cap and trade of global warming pollution, investment in public education and reform of the health care system.

“The largest problem we face is the economy.  The immediate answer is investment in clean energy.  Investments in clean energy and the visionary investments in health care and public education made through President Obama’s budget will put us on the path to economic sustainability,” said J.R. Tolbert Advocate for Environment Virginia.  “Senator Warner has placed these issues at the forefront of his political career and we need him to standup now and support the budget as proposed by the president.”

The group, part of the Renew and Rebuild America coalition, points to the economic benefits that Virginia will see as part of the president’s budget proposal.  The current economic conditions have led to an average of 330 Virginians losing their health insurance each day and nearly 750 more people face unemployment at the end of each week.

“The economic numbers that face our state should be of great concern to our decision makers.  We must take action now to renew and rebuild our economy,” said Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris.  “Our economy, our families, and our businesses are drowning in health care costs that are out of control. Every moment we wait, we fall farther behind. There is no room for political jockeying, partisan games, or recycled scare tactics.”

While the economic numbers may appear grim there is hope for a brighter future with President Obama’s budget.  By placing a cap on the amount of carbon entering the air and requiring polluters to pay for their emissions the budget projects $650 billion dollars in revenue that will be used to repower our economy with clean energy and strengthen the Making Work Pay tax credit.

Among the president’s proposals are expanding the Pell Grant program, increasing funding for nutritional programs for women, children and infants, and provides funding for the first time for the National Housing Trust Fund.  These programs will strengthen our communities by increasing access to education, nutritional programs and housing for working-class families.  More information on President Obama’s budget can be found at www.rebuildandrenew.org. 

The coalition realizes that passing President Obama’s budget faces obstacles in Congress.  “We understand that there are powerful interest that will fight progress on health care, education and the environment, and that is why we are calling on Senator Mark Warner to speak for these critical issues by supporting the Obama budget,” concluded Tolbert.

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Environment Virginia is a statewide citizen-based advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the commonwealth’s air, water and open spaces.