Al Gore documentary gets air time at Assembly
Al Gore documentary gets air time at Assembly
McIntosh promotes film on global warming to fellow lawmakers
By Kristen Wyatt
ANNAPOLIS // It was popcorn time at the Maryland legislature today as House members settled in to watch a global warming documentary to prepare them for bills about the problem this session.
The documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," in which Al Gore urges action to combat global warming and shows pictures of icebergs falling apart, was screened at the first meeting of the House Environmental Matters Committee.
Del. Maggie McIntosh, chairwoman of the committee, said the documentary made such an impression on her that she decided to bring in a popcorn machine and show the film to her committee. The film will also be screened twice next week.
"For us as policy-makers, there's a moral imperative to do something," said McIntosh, who was so taken with the movie she gave eight copies of it for Christmas, including one to House Speaker Michael Busch. About the movie day, she said, "We'll see if it has an effect on my committee."
It did on one member, Democrat Barbara Frush of Montgomery County.
"I was thinking, 'I want my daughters to see this.' I'm going to go out and buy it," Frush said after watching the film.
The movie is getting attention from policy-makers nationwide. Gore has crisscrossed the nation showing his film, which was named Best Documentary by the National Society of Film Critics. Public officials from upstate New York to Oregon have watched it, including Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, who went to Nashville, Tenn., last fall to learn to present the movie. In Arlington County, Va., officials credited the movie in part for deciding to commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions earlier this month.
"The former vice president is thrilled that the Maryland legislature is screening the film," Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider wrote in a statement. "He hopes that it will stimulate debate and discussion and that legislators will continue to learn more about the science and the solutions."
Global warming could figure prominently in this year's legislative session, when Democrats will take control of the governor's office and hold wider majorities in the state legislature. Top lawmakers say a so-called "clean cars" bill, a requirement that new cars meet tougher emissions standards, is likely to pass.
Last year lawmakers voted to require seven coal-fired plants to dramatically slash four emissions, including carbon dioxide. Global warming was cited in that debate.
McIntosh said lawmakers would also likely consider a tax-credit program to encourage more environment-friendly buildings.
Not all lawmakers were enthused about the global-warming push, or the Al Gore film. Some of them left when the movie began today, either saying they'd already seen it or didn't want to.
"I think it's propaganda," said Del. Joseph Boetler, R-Baltimore County. "Honestly I don't think it's worthwhile. ... I just don't believe it's a real issue."
Others said they weren't sure a state legislature is the place to address the problem.
"I think it's more of a federal, national issue," said committee member Barry Glassman, a Republican from Harford County.
On the Net
About the movie: http://www.climatecrisis.net/
Maryland General Assembly: http://mlis.state.md.us
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-gore0111,0,7718367.story?coll=bal-local-headlines
McIntosh promotes film on global warming to fellow lawmakers
By Kristen Wyatt
ANNAPOLIS // It was popcorn time at the Maryland legislature today as House members settled in to watch a global warming documentary to prepare them for bills about the problem this session.
The documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," in which Al Gore urges action to combat global warming and shows pictures of icebergs falling apart, was screened at the first meeting of the House Environmental Matters Committee.
Del. Maggie McIntosh, chairwoman of the committee, said the documentary made such an impression on her that she decided to bring in a popcorn machine and show the film to her committee. The film will also be screened twice next week.
"For us as policy-makers, there's a moral imperative to do something," said McIntosh, who was so taken with the movie she gave eight copies of it for Christmas, including one to House Speaker Michael Busch. About the movie day, she said, "We'll see if it has an effect on my committee."
It did on one member, Democrat Barbara Frush of Montgomery County.
"I was thinking, 'I want my daughters to see this.' I'm going to go out and buy it," Frush said after watching the film.
The movie is getting attention from policy-makers nationwide. Gore has crisscrossed the nation showing his film, which was named Best Documentary by the National Society of Film Critics. Public officials from upstate New York to Oregon have watched it, including Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, who went to Nashville, Tenn., last fall to learn to present the movie. In Arlington County, Va., officials credited the movie in part for deciding to commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions earlier this month.
"The former vice president is thrilled that the Maryland legislature is screening the film," Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider wrote in a statement. "He hopes that it will stimulate debate and discussion and that legislators will continue to learn more about the science and the solutions."
Global warming could figure prominently in this year's legislative session, when Democrats will take control of the governor's office and hold wider majorities in the state legislature. Top lawmakers say a so-called "clean cars" bill, a requirement that new cars meet tougher emissions standards, is likely to pass.
Last year lawmakers voted to require seven coal-fired plants to dramatically slash four emissions, including carbon dioxide. Global warming was cited in that debate.
McIntosh said lawmakers would also likely consider a tax-credit program to encourage more environment-friendly buildings.
Not all lawmakers were enthused about the global-warming push, or the Al Gore film. Some of them left when the movie began today, either saying they'd already seen it or didn't want to.
"I think it's propaganda," said Del. Joseph Boetler, R-Baltimore County. "Honestly I don't think it's worthwhile. ... I just don't believe it's a real issue."
Others said they weren't sure a state legislature is the place to address the problem.
"I think it's more of a federal, national issue," said committee member Barry Glassman, a Republican from Harford County.
On the Net
About the movie: http://www.climatecrisis.net/
Maryland General Assembly: http://mlis.state.md.us
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-gore0111,0,7718367.story?coll=bal-local-headlines
posted by presgore19 at 4:11 PM
<< Home