On Tuesday, state House members were united in Broncos orange to celebrate the Super Bowl champions. They were not at all united in environmental green when discussing the state’s plan to address climate change.

Republicans and Democrats extended floor debate for a second day over a bill that would create measurable goals and deadlines as part of the state’s “Climate Action Plan.”

The bill, HB 1004, sponsored by Reps. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Jeni Arndt, D-Fort Collins, was approved on a voice vote Monday and on final reading Tuesday by a 34-31 vote — but not before Republicans took turns railing against the bill, questioning climate change science and predicting that serious economic consequences would follow implementation of the plan.

Republicans proposed Monday that the bill include a measure of the economic impacts on low-income residents due to efforts to curb green-house gas emissions. Democrats countered with an amendment that would measure the social and health impacts of the state plan, as well as economic impacts. The amendment passed unopposed by Republicans.

Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt, R-Colorado Springs, started the debate Tuesday by questioning whether the “low-level bureaucrat” who drafted the plan was up to the task.

“I feel I have to respond because of how our employee was just characterized and treated in this body,” Winter responded. “(The bill’s drafter) is absolutely not a low-level bureaucrat. She worked in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources, with the Office of Economic Development, with CDOT and other stakeholders.”

Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, said any human effect on the planet’s climate was unclear, pointing to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study he said shows we’re living through a 10-year cooling period.

“Do I believe in climate change? Absolutely,” he said. “The only constant we have is change. I think it’s time we start relying on science rather than emotion. Because if you look at the science of NOAA, since 2005 we’re actually getting into a cooling cycle … We have had climate change throughout history.”

Coram was referring to a study by NOAA that showed temperatures have been dropping. In a subsequent report by NOAA, in response to the widely touted claim that the world is in a cooling period, the government agency has stated that the recent cooling period “is not an accurate reflection of long-term general trends.”

The bill asks the state’s climate change officer to “develop and periodically update a climate action plan or similar document that sets forth a strategy, including specific policy recommendations and measurable goals based on the best available science.”

On Monday Rep. Janak Joshi, R-Colorado Springs, questioned the term “best available science.” He said it was vague and that science in general is malleable.

Video Courtesy Colorado Channel

“We all drink water… and we will all die,” he said, suggesting that some version of science could be drawn up to conclude that drinking water killed people. “The data can say whatever you want it to say,” he said.

The bill passed the Democratic-controlled House and seems all but certain to fail in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Debate around the bill at the Capitol could well enjoy a second life as election campaign ad material this fall.

— ramsey@coloradostatesman.com