Representative Dennis Kucinich
Biography
Dennis Kucinich was born in 1946 in Cleveland, OH, the eldest of seven children. Kucinich was elected to the city council in 1969 at age 23. He was elected mayor in 1977 when the city government was in terrible financial straits. After surviving a recall petition by 236 votes of 120,000 cast, Kucinich was defeated in 1979. Kucinich then taught at Cleveland State and Case Western Reserve, hosted a radio talk show and was a TV reporter. In 1994, Kucinich staged a political comeback and was elected to the state Senate. In 1996 he ran for the House and won 49-46%. Kucinich is currently in his sixth term as a U.S. Representative, and serves on the Education & Labor and Oversight & Government Reform Committees. (2006 Almanac of American Politics)
Statements about global Warming
02/23/2007
"Like most environmental problems, the effects of global warming will be disproportionately felt by those least responsible for the problem: the poor and future generations. We have an obligation to take the lead, consistent with our disproportionate contribution. With only 5% of the world's population we produce 20% of the emissions. "We can increase CAFE standards from 24 miles per gallon to 40 miles per gallon for starters. We can derive our ethanol from renewable resources, not those that exacerbate world hunger by driving up food prices and exact environmental damage of their own. We can reduce our dependence on hydrocarbon fuels, unsafe nuclear power, and our dependence on foreign energy sources. The best path forward is a combination of multiple renewable energy technologies that when combined holistically can achieve these goals." "Rep. Kucinich: President Needs a Reality Check." US Fed News.
Read the full quote05/18/2006
"The science is clear. This is not a problem of the future. It is happening now. The United Nations has declared that at least 5 million cases of illness and more than 150,000 deaths every year are attributed to global warming. The 2003 European heat wave killed over 20,000 people. The 10 hottest years on record have occurred in the last 15 years. Two consecutive record-breaking hurricane seasons. The problem will not fix itself… Just how bad does it have to get?" Kucinich statement on the House floor during debate on H. R. 5386, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007.
Read the full quoteSee more statements by this candidate
Videos
Kucinich answers coal power plant emissions question in Concord, NH
08/15/2007
Kucinich answers global warming question in YouTube debate
07/23/2007
See more videos of this candidate