Last week, Peter introduced us to the field of biblical economics, the Religious Right’s effort to claim scriptural backing, however tenuous, for conservative economic policies.
And now, out of Alabama, we get a perfect example of biblical economics at work. AL.com reports on a press conference delivered by officials from the Alabama Public Service Commission and the Republican National Committee yesterday at which they argued against new EPA coal plant regulations by claiming that “coal was created in Alabama by God, and the federal government should not enact policy that runs counter to God’s plan.”
“Who has the right to take what God’s given a state?” asked commissioner-elect Chip Beeker.
The paper notes that the “press conference was held in the offices of the Alabama Coal Association.”
Two members of the Alabama Public Service Commission, a member-elect and an Alabama representative to the Republican National Committee said proposed EPA regulations that aim to reduce power plant carbon emissions by 30 percent represent “an assault on our way of life” and are a purposeful attempt by the Obama administration to kill coal-related jobs.
“We will not stand for what they are doing to our way of life in Alabama,” said PSC President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh. “We will take our fight to the EPA.”
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At their news conference today Cavanaugh and PSC commissioner-elect Chip Beeker invoked the name of God in stating their opposition to the EPA proposal. Beeker, a Republican who is running unopposed for a PSC seat, said coal was created in Alabama by God, and the federal government should not enact policy that runs counter to God’s plan.
“Who has the right to take what God’s given a state?” he said.
Cavanaugh called on the people of the state to ask for God’s intervention.
“I hope all the citizens of Alabama will be in prayer that the right thing will be done,” she said.
Also speaking in opposition to the EPA plan were PSC Commissioner Jeremy Oden and Paul Reynolds, an Alabama representative to the Republican National Committee.
One of the commissioners at the press conference, Twinkle Cavanaugh, last year kicked off a meeting on power rates with a prayer against marriage equality .
Cavanaugh will testify today at an Atlanta EPA hearing on the regulations.
