• The Clean Air Act is non-negotiable! Take action! Take action now!

By Elijah Zarlin
Campaign Manager, CREDO Action from Working Assets

Clean air is too important to be a bargaining chip in budget negotiations. But as the March 18 budget deadline looms, that’s what it could become.

Senate Democrats are now negotiating on the House Republicans’ radical spending bill—which contains draconian cuts to EPA funding and multiple provisions blocking the Clean Air Act from limiting climate pollution—and we must make sure Democrats staunchly defend the Clean Air Act, and reject any bills that contain these clean air attacks.

We need 41 votes to draw a line in the sand and protect the Clean Air Act. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) support is crucial.

Call Sen. Durbin and ask him to filibuster any bill that blocks or delays the Clean Air Act’s ability to limit climate pollution.

Here’s the number to call and an easy script if you’re unsure of what to say:

• First, dial Senator Dick Durbin’s office at 202-224-2152. Please be respectful toward the person who answers. (Ranting won’t help the cause.) Here’s a suggested script:

Hi – my name is [Name], and I live in [City], [State].

I’m calling to urge the Senator to filibuster any bill that blocks or delays the Clean Air Act’s ability to limit climate pollution. The Clean Air Act is essential to protecting public health, fighting climate change and moving our economy forward. The Senator’s support for it should be non-negotiable.

Can I count on the Senator to filibuster attacks on the Clean Air Act?

•  If the office seems undecided, respond:

For 40 years, the Clean Air Act has proven to be one of our most successful, cost effective pieces of legislation. It is strongly supported by the American people, and any attempt to delay or derail it is an attack on public health in favor of big polluters. I hope the Senator will draw a line in the sand to protect clean air.

•  If the Senator’s staff answers, “No,” you may respond, “What is the senator’s reason for not defending the clean air act?”

If the Senator’s staff answers, “Yes,” you may respond, “Great. Thanks for your time!”

•  Be sure to close the call with, “Thank you for your time!”

•  Other tips for your call: Be friendly and nice. Try again if the phone is busy or no answer. Report your call back to us at http://act.credoaction.com/call/report/?cp_id=90&id=17962-3283280-aeB8xnx&tg=FSIL_1&t=7 ^[1].

Wednesday, March 9, Senate Democrats failed to pass their initial version of a continuing resolution. Their bill preserved some cuts to EPA funding, but the worst components of the Republican bill—including language preventing the EPA and Clean Air Act from reducing carbon pollution—have thankfully been dropped.1
However, since the Senate bill couldn’t muster enough support to pass, we know it’s only going to get weaker going forward. And already, Harry Reid is signaling he’s ready to cave on some Republican cuts.2

Blocking the Clean Air Act’s climate authority is a top priority for the Republicans in these budget negotiations. And given that seven Senate Democrats3 are already on board with other bills to do just that or worse, we have few, if any, votes to spare to protect it.

Any delay of Clean Air Act enforcement is a significant defeat in our fight against climate change.

This budget battle is the first fight, and this is a key moment to shore up support and make sure the Senate is drawing a line that cannot be exploited by anti-science, pro-polluter legislators, for any reason.

Call Sen. Durbin and ask him to draw a line in the sand for the Clean Air Act. Click here for an easy script and number to call.

Thank you for fighting for clean air.

Notes: 1. “Democrats Provide a Counteroffer to GOP Cuts on Energy and Climate,” New York Times, March 7, 2011, 2. “Reid: Dems ready to compromise,” The Hill, March 10, 2011. 3. Democratic Senators Conrad, Johnson, Manchin, McCaskill, Nelson (NE) and Webb, are all co-sponsoring Senator Jay Rockefeller’s legislation to delay the Clean Air Act’s climate authority for two years. Manchin is also co-sponsoring Republican Jim Inhofe’s legislation to permanently block the Clean Air Act from limiting climate pollution.

From the March 16-22, 2011, issue