This Republican Admits Rising Seas Are Swallowing His District. but Can He Say That in Washington?
As one of GOP Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top lieutenants and a former staffer for some of Washington’s most high-powered politicians-turned-lobbyists, Graves has a base of political support that would be the envy of many in his class. But that’s not what makes him unique. Rather, what sets him apart is that he’s one of the only incoming Republican congressmen to seriously grapple with the effects of climate change.
Graves’ chief accomplishment as Jindal’s “coastal czar” in Baton Rouge was the 2012 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, a $50 billion scheme to shore up the state’s rapidly disappearing coastline against erosion and rising sea levels. The proposal was hailed at the time for its scope, and Graves has won plaudits from some of Jindal’s most consistent critics for his work. “It remains unfunded, but all acknowledge that it is based on science, not politics,” wrote the New Orleans alt-weekly, The Gambit, in an editorial when Graves stepped down. “That alone is a significant accomplishment.” A coalition of environmental advocacy groups hailed Graves as an “invaluable voice” for coastal protection, and one of those groups, the Environmental Defense Fund, has spent six figures to help get Graves elected.…
Barring a spectacular upset, Graves will represent a kinder, fresher approach to climate issues than firebrands like Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), his former boss, who once dismissed climate science as “ridiculous pseudo-science garbage.” Environmental groups have found a rare Republican they think is in their corner. So what happens when the congressman has to choose between Koch and coast? They’ll find out soon enough.
More: This Republican Admits Rising Seas Are Swallowing His District. but Can He Say That in Washington?