The following statement on yesterday’s debate in the U.S. Senate on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007 is from Trip Van Noppen, President of Earthjustice:

“Yesterday, Senate opponents derailed Floor debate on bi-partisan climate change legislation. Beyond forcing an eight-hour reading of the bill, they attempted to mask their cynical strategy of filibustering on behalf of the coal and oil industry by fabricating false claims that a deal to confirm three judges had been broken.

“In fact, after one judge was confirmed, scheduled votes on two Sixth Circuit nominees were delayed by Republican Senators. Before this dispute erupted, the votes had already been re-scheduled for June 12th.

“Senators should reject this unjustifiable effort to obstruct the most serious debate Congress has ever had on global warming — the greatest challenge the United States and the world have ever faced.”