Climate Facts — and Fancy

From God to cows, facts and falsehoods accompany global warming votes

By Chris Hamby | April 07, 2011

On Wednesday, one of this political era’s most contentious issues — climate change — came to a head on Capitol Hill, as both the House and Senate debated and voted on proposals to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In the House, the ban prevailed; in the Senate, though, multiple amendments foundered and supporters lacked enough votes to override a threatened veto by President Obama.

As frequently happens during such showdowns, claims and counter-claims on both sides flew fast and furious — among them a few wily distortions and utter fictions you’re likely to hear again because the dueling combatants are just getting warmed up. While the votes were largely symbolic and have no chance of becoming law, the debate allowed partisans on both sides to stake out territory they’ll revisit in the run-up to the 2012 election.