GOP Threatens Another Republican Government Shutdown

Climate change is real, and Americans of all stripes and political persuasions are demanding action.  On Wednesday, four former EPA administrators – appointed by Republican Presidents Nixon, Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush – urged Congress to take steps to combat carbon pollution, adding their voice to the overwhelming majority of Americans who support the President's bold plan to curb this growing threat.  House Republicans, however, have responded with irresponsible threats to shut down the government rather than move forward on an issue critical for our nation's economy and health:

From The New Republic:

Even before the Environmental Protection Agency released a big set of proposed coal regulations this month, Republicans had made clear their intent to undermine the rules. Now, senior members of the House GOP are hinting that their preferred strategy for doing this might be using appropriations bills necessary to keep the government open in order to block its implementation…risking a partial government shutdown. Here we go again.

The likelihood of a partial shutdown depends on how much Republicans are willing to bet on obstructing climate change action. Polls suggest it could be a risky fight headed into the midterm elections: A recent Bloomberg survey found nearly two-thirds of Americans are willing to pay more for electricity if it means curbing pollution. Do they want to try it again in order to take on something that most of the public supports?

Apartial shutdown to the Interior and EPA might seem like it would cause less damage to the GOP than the full-scale shutdown of 2013. But remember that includes national parks, which was one of the most visible and unpopular consequences from last year's shutdown. And the EPA is charged with a lot besides fighting climate change, like protecting our drinking water and overseeing cleanup of toxic waste sites.

Republicans' reckless and irresponsible behavior shut down the government for 16 days in October of 2013 taking $24 billion out of our nation's economy.  Their obstructionism brought us to the brink of a catastrophic default, and the American people paid the price.  Rather than threatening another careless shutdown, House Republicans should stop dodging the existing climate peril and work with House Democrats to pass legislation essential to the American people.