Letter to the editor - Iowa's election should be about climate solutions

Friday, February 1, 2008

It's very exciting that global warming has emerged as one of the major issues this election, not just on the national stage, but also on the local front. Ed Fallon's recent decision to challenge U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell is a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster showing (until recently) of my district's commitment to combating climate change.

I was ecstatic when Boswell signed on to the Safe Climate Act, a science-based bill that will reduce global-warming pollution by 80 percent by 2050, increase investment in renewable energy and significantly raise fuel-economy standards. U.S. Reps. Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley have also signed on to the Safe Climate Act, putting the entire Iowa Democratic delegation in the House behind the bill. I strongly commend Boswell for his leadership on this bill and would like to thank him for making the right decision.

However, it's incredibly important that our Iowa representatives in Washington are passionate about making real changes to our energy policy. Global warming is real, and we need to take sensible steps toward fighting it. Fallon has listed global warming as one of the top three reasons he is running for office. It's refreshing to see this issue start to make its way up the politicians' list of priorities.

Study after study has shown how global-warming solutions will create jobs in Iowa and save consumers money. This election, the debate is no longer whether we should start doing something about global warming but who will be the strongest advocate for climate solutions.

- Jennifer Oredson