U.S. Rep. Dent: 'Not Prepared to Support Carbon Tax'

Twelve members of Organizing for Action -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan group -- met with U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent Thursday afternoon in his South Whitehall office to ask for congressional action on climate change.

"We're here to attempt to get Charlie Dent to be a champion against climate change, which we feel is the greatest threat currently facing humanity," said Organizing for Action member Gene Hunter of Bethlehem. "The Earth is changing so rapidly, it is in dire danger of drought, flood, tsunami, famine and pestilence."

Group spokesman Gloria McVeigh of Lower Saucon said the three answers the group wanted from Dent concerned the following questions: Did he accept climate change as a fact? Does human activity have a larger role to play in it? What action will he take?

The hourlong discussion apparently did not bear much fruit for the group.

"In a word, no," Hunter said, when asked if he heard what he wanted from Dent.

Following the meeting, Dent told Patch that the group is pushing for a carbon tax, something that he said he isn't prepared to support.

"We had a frank and candid discussion," Dent said. "I am not going to deal with environmental and energy policy by isolating the broader economy. You can't de-couple the two."

Dent said a carbon tax of any kind will hurt the economy and job creation.

"I believe the Earth is warming," Dent said. "There are certain renewables in the marketplace other than wind and solar. We're using natural gas to a much greater extent now and are lowering our carbon emissions to better levels than 1996."

Ed DelViscio of Salisbury Township said he is a concerned citizen who attended the meeting.

"I'm concerned about his stand," he said. "With respect to the congressman, I think he's making false comparisons to the environment and the economy."

The group presented Dent with 330 signature cards from constituents urging action on climate change.

The group supports President Obama's agenda on issues such as gun violence, the environment and immigration reform, according to its website.

The group rallied in front of Dent's office last week urging the congressman to co-sponsor a bill that would strengthen background checks for gun purchases.