GOP senator: "Tolerance" needed for climate change deniers

Sen. Roger Wicker called for the public discourse on global warming to accept "many scientific viewpoints"

Published July 22, 2013 9:09PM (EDT)

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks to reporters following his victory speech after he is declared the winner to a second term in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday evening, Nov. 6, 2012.   (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)   (Associated Press)
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks to reporters following his victory speech after he is declared the winner to a second term in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday evening, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (Associated Press)

Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican who does not believe in man-made climate change, called for the public discourse on the topic to have more "tolerance" for those "different" viewpoints. “At the very least, I think it’s time for some tolerance in the public discourse regarding the many scientific viewpoints on climate change. Respect should be shown to those who have done the research and come to a different conclusion,” he said.

Wicker, R-Miss., was speaking at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on climate science. As The Hill reports, GOP lawmakers, including the eight members on the Environment and Public Works panel, have rejected the consensus that humans have contributed to climate change.

In response to President Obama's speech on climate change earlier this month, Wicker decried Obama's "assertions that global temperatures are on the rise – a notion challenged by scientists and scholars."

"I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to rein in the Administration’s intrusive power grabs to push a radical climate agenda," he added.

h/t Steve Benen.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Climate Change Global Warming Mississippi Republicans Roger Wicker