A Florida official on Wednesday repeated the phrase “climate change” during a state senate committee hearing in an attempt to prove that the Florida government does not ban its employees form using terms like “climate change” and “global warming.”
Jonathan Steverson, the former director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, was appointed by Republican Gov. Rick Scott (pictured above) in December as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
During his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, Democratic state Sen. Darren Soto asked Steverson about the reports that the Florida government banned its officials from using terms like “climate change” in official communications.
“Climate change. Climate change. Climate change,” Steverson responded, according to the News Service of Florida. “There, I said it three times. There is absolutely no policy against discussing climate change at the department. In fact, we have multiple programs related to climate change.”
Steverson said he supports the new budget for the Florida Forever land acquisition, which he said includes programs to address climate change.
He added that the earth’s climate is always changing, but did not mention whether he believes human activity contributes to climate change.
“But certainly, climate change is always happening. It’s always changing,” he said, according to the News Service of Florida. “And we know sea-level rise is real and we are working not only with the water management districts but the Department of Economic Opportunity and with Game and Fish to address those concerns.”
Florida officials have denied that the “climate change” ban exists. However, in video that went viral last month, Bryan Koon, the Florida chief of emergency management, repeatedly dodged the term term “climate change” at a state senate hearing.
You said The Words! That’s step one in the ten step program to get you past your denial of anthropogenic climate change. Good job!
Highly reminiscent of the walking-back done by the bigots in Talibandiana. “No, this alleged religious freedom law isn’t intended to legalize discrimination. In fact, it has no point whatsoever. Gay, gay, gay. See, I said it three times. Had I simultaneously clicked my heels together, I’d have lifted myself off the ground.”
Actually, I would have immediately turned to one of his aides and asked if he or she can say it too.
Uh-oh. Governor Skull won’t like this!
The first rule in climate change denial is you don’t talk about climate change denial.