Young people make great citizen lobbyists

Recently I had a terrific experience volunteering with Whitefish High School student Luca Welle as citizen lobbyists. We were warmly welcomed in our online meeting with Representative Gianforte’s office in Washington, D.C. Luca and I are both members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Our meeting was one of over 400 held in June by CCL with D.C. lawmakers to ask for a price on carbon pollution.

Climate change is caused by global warming. Carbon dioxide blankets the Earth and traps in heat. Burning coal, oil, and gas makes more carbon dioxide. The Earth is getting warmer as the carbon dioxide blanket thickens. 97% of climate scientists say humans are causing global warming by burning fossil fuels.

Young people, especially young Republicans, want government action. In a 2019 poll by Luntz, 75% of Republicans under 40 supported putting a price on carbon pollution and giving regular dividends to households.

CCL supports the bipartisan Energy Innovation Act (HR763) which puts a price on fossil fuels with net revenue returned to all Americans as monthly payments. It drives down carbon pollution because everyone will choose cleaner, cheaper options. Most end up with more money in their pockets.

In Luca’s words “We hope Representative Gianforte will cosponsor the Energy Innovation Act. This policy will benefit our economy, our health, and our futures here in the Flathead Valley.”

I encourage young people to join us!

Robin Paone, Whitefish