More:


"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, was forced to declare a state of disaster in four dozen Texas counties, or, as he put it, “literally from the Red River to the Rio Grande,” but made no mention of the role climate change likely played.


That’s not a surprise: Abbott is a climate science denier. He maintains it is an open question whether human activity is influencing the climate. “We must be good guardians of our Earth,” he told the San Antonio Express-News in 2014, “but we must base our decisions on peer-reviewed scientific inquiry, free from political demagogues using climate change as an excuse to remake the American economy.”


Never mind that peer-reviewed science is unequivocal about the threat carbon emissions pose to the climate.


What about U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, who represents a Texas congressional district that includes San Antonio and Austin? Both cities just experienced intense rain and severe flooding and Smith is the chairman of the House Space, Science and Technology Committee. Surely the head of a science committee must be aware of the link between global warming and extreme weather.


Nope. Like Abbott, Smith is a confirmed climate science denier. Although he rejected that characterization during a meeting with constituents last November, claiming that he’s merely a “semi-skeptic,” he went on to dispute mainstream climate science."


And:


"Smith not only subscribes to specious theories about climate change, he also harasses climate scientists in the federal government and at nonprofit organizations with whom he disagrees. Last fall, for example, he subpoenaed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for its internal emails and research data because he believes the agency’s scientists are using “skewed” data. And just last month, he requested internal documents and emails from my organization, the Union of Concerned Scientists, because we have been openly encouraging state attorneys general to investigate ExxonMobil for failing to disclose to investors and the public what its scientists knew about climate change."


Le Culprit:


"What could explain this stark divide between French and Texan politicians? There may be a number of reasons, but an obvious one to consider is the role of undue corporate influence. In France, corporations are not allowed to donate money or provide services to political candidates or political parties. In Texas, it’s a very different story.


Abbott, a former Texas attorney general, won the governorship in 2014. The $4.2 million he received in contributions from the oil and gas industry for his gubernatorial campaign was more than twice the amount he got from any other sector. Among his top benefactors were Nustar Energy ($90,000), Koch Industries ($57,500) and Valero Energy ($50,000). Other donors included ExxonMobil, which kicked in $15,000, and Chevron and ConocoPhillips, which each donated $12,500.


The oil and gas industry, meanwhile, has been Smith’s leading patron during his nearly 30 years in office. Over the last decade, his biggest contributors from that sector include Koch Industries, which gave him $87,000, and Valero Energy, which gave him more than $100,000."

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