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In Senate Testimony, Top Rick Scott Adviser Won't Say 'Climate Change'

Gov. Rick Scott's chief of emergency management, Bryan Koon, testifying Thursday before the Legislature, had a half-dozen chances to use the term "climate change." But he would not say the C-words.

The Florida Governor's recent edict against uttering the C-words "climate change" turned to farce a few days ago in the Florida legislature.

via Miami Herald

Gov. Rick Scott's chief of emergency management, Bryan Koon, testifying Thursday before the Legislature, had a half-dozen chances to use the term "climate change."

But he would not say the C-words.

Scott has denied news reports that employees of the Department of Environmental Protection were barred from saying "climate change," "global warming" and "sustainability," but he has declined to discuss the subject in detail.

Koon was talking to a Senate budget subcommittee about his agency's request for federal funds to improve emergency life safety notifications for residents and visitors in advance of floods, tornadoes and hurricanes in Florida. Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, asked Koon if it's true that states need to have "climate change plans" to qualify for that federal money.

Yes, Koon replied, referring to "language to that effect."

"I used 'climate change,'" Clemens said, "but I'm suggesting that maybe as a state, we use the term 'atmospheric reemployment.' That might be something that the governor could get behind."

Senators roared with laughter, and the chairman, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, almost literally fell out of his chair.

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