For a long time, Republicans around the country were content to simply deny the existence of climate change.
In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott said, “I’ve not been convinced that there’s any man-made climate change... Nothing’s convinced me that there is.”
Even as recently as January, the 24 Republicans on the House of Energy and Commerce Committee voted against a measure that would have definitely stated the existence of anthropogenic climate change.
Now, in the face of overwhelming evidence that global warming is not only real but perhaps inevitable and irreversible, Republicans are starting to change their tune, if only slightly.
The new popular talking point among Republicans is some variation of “I’m not a scientist, therefore, I can’t say whether climate change is real or not.”
Scott has gotten in on the act, too. In May, when asked for his thoughts on climate change, Scott simply said, “I’m not a scientist.”
Most Republicans are not doctors or health care professionals, yet they have no problem claiming that the Affordable Care Act is a massive failure.
Most Republicans are not economists or tax experts, but that doesn’t stop them from claiming that massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy will lead to economic prosperity, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
And most Republicans aren’t women, but that doesn’t deter them from passing law after law to make access to reproductive health care more difficult and expensive.
So, given the inanity and thorough ridiculousness of the “I’m not a scientist” trope, why are Republicans actually so determined to avoid discussing climate change?
The answer is simple, if infuriating: The Republican Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the oil and gas industries.
In just the past year, representatives of the energy industry have given more than $68 million in political contributions, with nearly 80 percent of that money going to Republicans.
Two of the top three beneficiaries of this campaign cash have been from Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Oh., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. These two individuals largely direct the policy priorities of the entire Republican Party.
Next month, scientists and policymakers will be holding a conference in Tampa to discuss the issue of climate change.
According to the Huffington Post, Scott’s spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said, “We think it’s a great idea for them to have a summit ... and we look forward to reading their report.” That kind of weak and halfhearted statement on climate change is exactly what Florida and the rest of the country cannot afford.
Climate change threatens both the environment and the global economy. Scott and other Republicans must break free from the corrupt stranglehold of the oil and gas industries and confront this critical issue before it is too late.
