Special Report
15 Politicians Who Have Disputed the Severity of Climate Change
October 24, 2022 11:00 am
5. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana’s 1st District
> Total campaign contributions from oil & gas industry: $1.99 million
> Current term ends: 2023
> Served in the U.S. House since: 2008
When asked by an interviewer whether he believes in the science behind man-made climate change, Rep. Scalise responded, “We do know that the Earth’s temperature changes. It goes up and down. … In the 1970s, they said we were entering a new cooling period.” – CBS This Morning, YouTube, 6/14/2019
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
4. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas’ 8th District
> Total campaign contributions from oil & gas industry: $2.09 million
> Current term ends: 2023 (not running for reelection)
> Served in the U.S. House since: 1997
“I wonder if proponents of ‘climate change’ consider a NASA climatologist worth listening to.” – Facebook, 1/23/2014
Source: Stefani Reynolds / Getty Images News via Getty Images
3. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma
> Total campaign contributions from oil & gas industry: $2.32 million
> Current term ends: 2023 (not running for reelection)
> Served in the U.S. Senate since: 1994
“You can’t argue with climate change because it’s always been changing.” – Stillwater News Press, 10/18/2018
Source: Tom Brenner / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky
> Total campaign contributions from oil & gas industry: $2.87 million
> Current term ends: 2027
> Served in the U.S. Senate since: 1985
“What I have said repeatedly is I’m not a scientist. … the United States doing this by itself is going to have zero impact.” – Roll Call, 10/8/2014
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
1. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas
> Total campaign contributions from oil & gas industry: $4.21 million
> Current term ends: 2025
> Served in the U.S. Senate since: 2013
“The climate has been changing from the dawn of time. The climate will change as long as we have a planet Earth.” – NPR, 12/27/2018
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