Pawlenty, Other Governors Propagandize for CCS in New Video

 

“Ahead of the Curve”

(two parts - total runtime: 14 minutes)

Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) is a global warming mitigation think-tank largely funded by the Rockefeller Brothers that has had a hand in creating a cookie-cutter climate change plan for many states. A new video produced by Sea Studios, titled “Ahead of the Curve” features Minnesota Governor Pawlenty (R), Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (D), all chiming in on the benefits of adopting CCS-recommended strategies. Probably not coincidently, the video was funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and these three governors are all clients of CCS.

Minnesota’s own Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG) contracted with CCS to help create a climate mitigation action plan intended to provide guidance to legislators and the governor. Many of the policies suggested by CCS are the same as could be found in the defeated Lieberman-Warner Cap and Trade bill, and both the MCCAG report and CCS’ methodology in general have come under heavy fire from critics.

A peer review of MCCAG’s report by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University found serious flaws in the methodology and assumptions used to reach it’s conclusions. The Beacon Hill review concluded that the report provides zero guidance to policy makers, fails to perform the most basic task of any cost/benefit analysis and that CCS’ cost savings estimates are not just wildly optimistic, but are “the product of a purely fictitious analysis.”

The Minnesota Free Markets Institute also undertook a review of MCCAG’s policy recommendations, and exposed further weaknesses in the plan. That analysis found MCCAG’s (and CCS’) assumptions and recommendations for land use, transportation and agricultural policies to be unrealistic, and in some cases, contrary to established laws. MCCAG’s emphasis on increasing the cost of driving and reducing investment in roads came under particular scrutiny in the review.

Ahead of the Curve features Governor Pawlenty advocating CCS recommendations, saying, “I don’t think many people would disagree with the fact that what we’re doing is unsustainable, environmentally, economically, and from a national security standpoint. But we have a chance to try to make a difference and to do good.

“When we say things like we want to have 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by the year 2025, that’s a goal or a strategy, but you also have to make sure those goals are realized, and that’s what we’re working on as we speak.”

The governors of Arizona and Florida also chime in with their support for CCS-inspired policies despite the documented flaws in their basic assumptions.

When the facts don’t matter any more, and the realities of rising energy, fuel and food costs apparently leave governors and legislators nonplussed, it can be difficult not to worry about our future with leaders pushing self-destructive energy policies based on unsound science and political whimsy.

3 Responses to Pawlenty, Other Governors Propagandize for CCS in New Video

  1. Skip June 20, 2008 at 5:32 pm #

    With a constant refrain of this kind of nonsense, no wonder McCain can’t even poll well among Republicans, conservatives, whatever other non-lefties are left out there.

  2. John N June 20, 2008 at 5:46 pm #

    Pawlenty claims to be for lower taxes, but that is a direct contradiction to his goals surrounding (supposed) climate change and the environment.

    We had another Governor in Mn not long ago that started out sounding conservative and claimed to be for lower taxes but in the end showed his true colors. He wasn’t re-elected. I hope Pawlenty isn’t either.

  3. H.Goodloe October 23, 2009 at 1:42 pm #

    Do not let the UN pass the Climate Change Treaty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Will be the end of FREEDOM~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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