Commentary

Murray and Ryan Budgets: Careful Stewardship Versus Mishandling of Environment, Health and Energy


WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–March 13, 2013 – Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) released starkly contrasting proposals for the Fiscal 2014 Federal Budget Resolution this week.

Franz Matzner, associate director of government affairs for the Natural Resources Defense Council, issued this statement on the plans:  

“The choice couldn’t be clearer: Senator Murray’s balanced approach provides careful stewardship of our land, water, air and health, while Congressman Ryan’s ideology-driven budget would put our health and resources at needless risk.

“The Senate budget crafted by Senator Murray mirrors the values of the vast majority of Americans who want their air, land and water protected, and do not want to hobble the government’s efforts to look out for them. The Senate budget appropriately adds funding to combat climate change and the responsible management of public lands and resources. And it promotes conservation and renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar and biofuels that create jobs and reduce our dependence on oil in the 21st Century.

“The House budget plan, written by Congressman Ryan, in sharp contrast, advocates an anti-environment ideological agenda.  It would push American energy policy backwards by expanding the use of fossil fuels; turn a blind eye toward worsening changes in our climate; and deepen the sequester cuts that already shortchange clean air, clean water and national parks so many Americans enjoy.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Livingston, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

Source: nrdc.org

 


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