Senator Landrieu chose polluters

Letter to the Editor

I am extremely disappointed that in a vote last week between protecting Louisianians’ health or siding with America’s biggest polluters and their lobbyists, Senator Landrieu chose polluters.

The measure, which the U.S. Senate thankfully defeated, would have threatened Louisianians’ health by blocking the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to clean up dangerous carbon dioxide pollution.

Carbon dioxide pollution fuels global warming, which scientists predict will lead to more heat-related deaths and the spread of infectious disease. The biggest polluters, like coal-fired power plants, are currently allowed to spew unlimited amounts of this pollution from their smokestacks.

By voting to block EPA, Senator Landrieu is also placing the health of Louisiana’s children, elderly citizens, and other vulnerable populations-especially those 368,000 Louisianians who suffer from asthma-at risk, according to the American Lung Association.

Polluters and their allies in Congress have made it clear that they will keep fighting to pollute our air without limit, and Louisianians are looking to our congressional delegation to defend the health of our children and families. I urge Senator Landrieu to side with people over polluters in the future by rejecting attacks on our health and instead standing up for cleaner air and a healthier future.

– Heather Emmert
Gulf States Organizer
Environment America

This story originally published in the April 18, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.