North Carolina Senate approves law that denies sea-level science
[Next up: Outlawing hurricanes.] [UPDATE: Here’s the language of the bill: From House Bill 819 (Proposed Senate Committee Substitute H819-CSLH-38 [v.18]): “The Division of Coastal Management shall be the only State agency authorized to develop rates of sea-level rise and shall do so only at the request of the Commission. These rates shall only be determined using historical data, and these data shall be limited to the time period following the year 1900. Rates of sea-level rise may be extrapolated linearly to estimate future rates of rise but shall not include scenarios of accelerated rates of sea-level rise.” To see why this is insane: PIK sea level data.] By John Murawski
13 June2012 With virtually no debate, the state Senate Tuesday nixed global warming restrictions on the state’s coast. Lawmakers passed a bill that restricts local planning agencies’ abilities to use climate change science to predict sea-level rise in 20 coastal counties. The bill’s supporters said that relying on climate change forecasts would stifle economic development and depress property values in eastern North Carolina. The bill has sparked outrage in some circles. It was ridiculed earlier this month on the television show, The Colbert Report. Despite the controversy, it has repeatedly cleared every hurdle in the GOP-led legislature. In the Senate Tuesday, the only comments were a few brief remarks in favor of the measure as a victory of common sense over alarmist research. The practical result of the legislation would be that for the purposes of coastal development, local governments could only assume that the sea level will rise 8 inches by 2100, as opposed to the 39 inches predicted by a science panel. The measure next goes back to the state House, where it recently passed, to consider a technical change adopted by the Senate. Once approved there, it would override the 2010 conclusions of the state-appointed science panel. The panel said melting glaciers would result in pervasive flooding nearly 2 miles inland in parts of the state by the end of this century. The Senate voted 35 – 12 to squelch those findings as unreliable and harmful to economic development. “It’s becoming tough on any kind of economic development if we don’t start using common sense in some of this rule-making,” said Sen. Harry Brown, a Republican who represents coastal Jones and Onslow counties. The bill’s main backer, Republican Sen. David Rouzer of Johnston and Wayne counties, said the more severe prediction of sea-level rise would sink property values, hurt tax revenues and inflate insurance rates. He said that predicting climate eight decades out is folly. The legislation gives the state Coastal Resources Commission sole responsibility for predicting the rate of sea-level rise to be used as a basis for state and local regulations. The commission’s 15 members are appointed by the governor. But the legislation also defines how the Coastal Resources Commission is to decide sea-level rates. Specifically, the law says forecasts can be based on historical data only and can’t take into account non-historical factors. The key factor that’s disqualified is the belief that greenhouse gases are causing climate change and speeding up glacier melts. The push to rollback climate change science came from N.C.-20, a nonprofit that promotes economic development in the 20 coastal counties. The group’s chairman, Tom Thompson, is a Beaufort County economic development director.
Proof positive that law makers are utter idiots.
Most people already know this.
The people of North Carolina need to throw these idiots out of office ASAP (as they watch their newly built beach front homes wash into the ocean).
North Carolina "lawmakers" are going to go down in history as some of the stupidest people on the planet.
Of course, the "GOP-led legislature" speaks volumes about their level of planetary awareness, intelligence, science background and the current rate of climate change.
Seeing how Nature isn't going to obey this law whatsoever, it will be real interesting to see these clowns (who will all have retired, passing the problem to someone else) backtrack this idiotic decision.
Stupid is as stupid does:
"The practical result of the legislation would be that for the purposes of coastal development, local governments could only assume that the sea level will rise 8 inches by 2100, as opposed to the 39 inches predicted by a science panel."
Ignoring the evidence will cost North Carolina billions of dollars and massive human suffering. These idiots are trying to promote economic development but are going to permit horrendous damage in the long run.
"But the legislation also defines how the Coastal Resources Commission is to decide sea-level rates."
"Specifically, the law says forecasts can be based on historical data only and can’t take into account non-historical factors."
This means that factual evidence (real measurements taking place in the 21st century) aren't considered valid or proof of anything. "Assumptions" are deemed more meaningful.
Unbelievable.
"The key factor that’s disqualified is the belief that greenhouse gases are causing climate change and speeding up glacier melts."
So lawmakers (secretly having advanced degrees in climate science) get to "decide" for all the people of North Carolina that they are far better qualified then top experts from around the entire world.
Since they'll be spending the public money based on their "expertise", this should make North Carolinian's feel very comfortable to know their in such good, qualified hands.
Don't these utter idiots realize that "belief" has absolutely nothing to do with actual fact?
Where to these morons think all that glacial melt is going? Is it magically disappearing like the IQ of a North Carolina lawmaker?
Unbelievable. Absolute idiots.
Now we get to watch other legislators follow the idiotic lead down the path towards oblivion.
~Survival Acres~