By 1Sky policy intern Ben Wessel. -- Luis
After weeks of rumors, Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced this morning that George LeMieux would replace retiring Republican Senator Mel Martinez in the US Senate. LeMieux, a longtime Crist ally and confidant (as well as former Crist chief of staff and campaign manager), will hold the seat until January 2011. Crist is favored to win that seat in the November 2010 elections.
For 1Sky and other climate advocates, the appointment of LeMieux brings up one central question, “Will (soon-to-be) Senator LeMieux vote for a climate bill?” Martinez was a moderate voice in the Senate, and a definite swing vote on climate (he voted for cloture on last year's climate bill). It’s no secret that LeMieux’s policy stances on Capitol Hill won’t differ much from Crist’s, and LeMieux could spend much of his short tenure as a Senator praising the Governor as a worthy successor. Less clear, however, is what sort of support the LeMieux-Crist camp will give a climate bill when it reaches the Senate floor.
In the past, Governor Crist has been one of the most vocal Republican supporters of clean energy and climate legislation, co-hosting a well-publicized international climate summit with green guv buddy Arnold Schwarzenegger, signing an executive order calling for a reduction of Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting and signing off on a statewide cap-and-trade policy.
LeMieux, as one of Crist’s tightest buddies, has supported Crist’s actions publicly and effusively, and stressed the need for climate action. On his “The LeMieux Report” website:
As the second fastest growing state with respect to annual increase in greenhouse gases (GHG), the creation of a cap and trade program was necessary and timely to address the challenge of climate change.
In the Palm Beach Post:
The governor has been doing a lot of reading; he's been studying this subject...There might have been a time where the jury was out, but the jury is in now, and we know this is an issue. We can't afford to ignore it and be wrong.
In his “Boardroom Brief” blog:
Florida’s clean energy economy should be among the top in the nation...it is important to look at alternative energy solutions and build a foundation that will have a positive long-term impact on Florida’s economy.
Recently, however, the Crist camp has done an about-face on climate and energy. Crist has received mounting criticism from fellow Republicans for his progressive stances, and it seems the heat is beginning to get to him. The Miami Herald reports:
Crist looks ready to cancel his [annual] climate-change summit and is backing away from advocating a ``cap-and-trade'' energy policy. At his well-publicized climate summit last summer, Crist pushed a number of energy plans to encourage renewable energy development and establish a cap-and-trade market that would penalize fossil-fuel use. But Crist's plans were shredded by the Republican Legislature and his cap-and-trade proposal has been bashed as a ``tax'' by his Republican U.S. Senate opponent, Marco Rubio, who has been ardently courting the GOP's conservative wing.
There’s little doubt that LeMieux will be a friend of and spokesman for the Crist camp during his time in Washington (after being interviewed for the job, he described himself to the media as “a Charlie Crist Republican”).
The essential question for 1Sky and climate advocates across the country is this: how will LeMieux and Crist choose to stand on climate -- with their old vigor and aggressiveness, or with their more recent cautiousness? The answer could make a world of difference.
We have has been working with allies like Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and Faiths United for Sustainable Energy (FUSE) in Florida for years, and will continue to support immediate federal action on climate and energy. From the massive potential for solar power in the Sunshine State to the need for strong coastal management, Florida has much to gain by embracing strong climate policy. As we welcome Senator LeMieux to Washington, we will be pushing for a continuation of the successful climate policies implemented by “Crist Republicans” in Florida.
Can’t wait for LeMieux’s views on the news (America’s new favorite rhyme!)? Check out his weekly video updates on YouTube. Nothing like superhero theme music and Die Hard-inspired graphics to get me pumped for “your weekly source for issues affecting business, law and politics in Florida!”
November 23, 2009
12:42 PM
Senator LiMieux,
One more thing, I'm not like the senior citizen on September 17 at 10:51am. is all wrong about death panels. Although we put the scare in these old folks to run away from health reform. They won't get me because I'm going to carry my big republican guns. I am so proud that the republican party allows me the right to "bear" arms.
What a wonderful word the republican party allows me to live in. God Bless the republican party. : )
September 10, 2009
3:31 PM
In the original stimulus bill, billions of dollars were earmarked to set up a big brother healthcare computer that would monitor every doctor's office, every hospital, and all our health records. Why does noone mention this in the current debate and what happened to that idea and the money? It's way too invasive for most people to support.
Also, the quickest way to lower health care costs right now is to cap malpractice settlements not insurance company profits. If doctors and hospitals did not have to pay these outrageous malpractices premiums, they could lower everyone's cost of health care instantly.
Thanks for listening.
September 11, 2009
6:58 AM
Dear Senator LeMieux,
Thank you for the email and best of luck to you in your new position/role. I would appreciate it if you would please support the President's Health Plan. As an MS sufferer, I have had to go without Health Insurance due to my pre-existing condition and plan to work until I die as long as I am able to do so. God help me if I cannot work because I don't know what will become of me.
September 11, 2009
9:18 AM
Welcome,please get to work on health care reform we need to do something this year. Thank you Michael C. Brousseau
September 14, 2009
3:03 PM
Senator LeMieux....
While attending the Taxpayer's March on DC this past week, my husband and I stopped in to see you, at about 3:30 on the day of your swearing in and your celebration party was spilling into the hall....bad timing. We'd like to congratulate you and wish you the very best. Your willingness to step in at a very difficult time is greatly appreciated. Now that we have your contact information, we'd like to meet with you, at some point.
September 14, 2009
5:38 PM
senator lemieux, please support the public option. There are a large number of floridians in support of Obama's public option, please listen.
September 16, 2009
9:14 AM
Senator, Health care insurance reform is only one piece of the heath care puzzle. There needs to be a reform of the system from recruitment of health care workers, to their education, to facilities and distribution of expensive equipment and services and tort reform. Just giving access without capacity and staffing to accommodate the increase is sheer folly.
September 17, 2009
8:54 AM
There is a larger number of Floridians who do not want government run health care in ANY form. Govt. has no business trying to implement socialized medicine and interfere with the citizen's personal and private healthcare decisions. Reform? Yes? But there are other ways to do it properly without taxing us to death, rationing and putting govt. wonks between us and our doctors.
September 17, 2009
10:51 AM
I am glad you have the stand on certain things that I am interested in as an America Citizen as well as a Fl voter. As a senior citizen, I am concerned about the so call"end of life pannels". I don't put anything past the Democrats in D.C. This is the most scariest time in our nations history. I do want those who do not have health care to be able to get it, but not on the backs of those of ust who have worked and paid our dues to get it. We pay $440.00 for my husband and I to have health care, as well as 200 a piece for Medicare. Thank God{and I mean that} that we can afford it, but I have friends that voted for Mr. Obama, just so they could get free health care while buying luxuary items, cruises and anything their hearts desire. That is not fare and I don't owe them my life, as they suggest so they can have it all. Please help block anything that will endanger anyone's life including the unborn.
September 17, 2009
11:31 AM
Senator Lemieux, The only part of the health care reform that has any teeth in is the public option. This is the only really effective device that will keep hospitals from charging exurbanite fees for hospital care. The special interests along with the Republicans in both houses have already pretty much derailed it. With both parties always working against each other, along with the lobby groups spending billons to keep the status quo, and as we the people sit passively by with no one to represent us basically, how is this ever going to get fix before it crashes?
September 17, 2009
11:32 AM
Welcome. Please support a healthy medical reform bill that includes a public option. I would prefer a single payer system. That makes so much more sense to me. But if not single payer, then please support a public option and strong limits on insurance company injustices. Insurance company profits are enormous at the expense of citizens. This is outrageous and needs to be addressed now. NOW. Healthy medical reform, please. I am also hoping you will vote in favor of climate control as well. This is urgent.
September 17, 2009
1:04 PM
Dear Sen LeMieux,
Welcome to Washington. Well sir, you have quite a dilemma on your hands. You can succumb to the pressures of a far right but crazier and more alienated by the day fringe that has successfully hijacked the Republican Party on a temporary basis or you can join the ranks of moderate leaders that have a long term future. In one lies disappointment and engagement with lunatics, in the other, a legislative future that you can be proud of.
A fine Republican, Abraham Lincoln, said it well when he proclaimed "Of the people, by the people and for the people." It is clear to any rational mind that these parasitic insurance companies have to be either abolished or reigned in. HCS's CEO has amassed $750,000,000.00 in his 8 year tenure there after he jumped ship at ENRON. This must have this heartless piece of feces dancing in the street.
Enough is enough. Imagine how you will feel both mentally and physically with cleaner air to breathe and a health system that isn't a vehicle for profit gleaned by immoral and repugnant behavior. I hope that you will join your fellow human beings on that high road of principal. Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely; Michael Lucas; AKA scrutkitty
September 17, 2009
3:51 PM
Please do not pass ANY healthcare plan that turns over my private and personal healthcare decisions to bureaucrats on Capitol Hill. As an American, I should be able to maintain the freedom to make these kinds of decisions for myself and for my loved ones.
Americans have clearly rejected government run healthcare. Any plan the government comes up with will include soaring new taxes and there will be government fees that will choke the free market and medical innovation that we experience in our great country.
I believe that if any changes are made in health care they should be by the private sector. One change should include tort reform!
January 27, 2010
9:23 PM
After reading week after week of Senator LeMieux's updates,I am a sad sad citizen of our beautiful state. The last comments on the weekly update was that our government has a spending problem. The Obama administration came in when everything had fallen apart.HELLO, WE HAD AN ENTIRE WAR THAT THE LAST ADMINISTRATION DID NOT INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET FOR YEARS! I don't agree with big government, but I certainly don't agree with letting businesses and greed rule the state and country either. Is there a third party out there that just believes in doing the right thing?
I guess the 1000's of fish that are floating in our ocean, right now, are not scientific enough for our Senator to support the halt recreational fishing for a season. Lets just pillage the rest of the sea and then we will have no fishing at all. So short sited...
Shame on this Senator for taking people's hurt, all caused from our last administration and blame them on our current administration.
Senator LeMieux, you need to be more moderate to have success in Florida.
Please..
RSS
November 22, 2009
3:06 PM
Arthur J Brown said:
Please change my e-mail address from gardensajb@bellsouth.net to the one listed above
gardesnajb@comcast.net
Thank you
Flag as inappropriate | Permalink