Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill and potential ballot measures that would ban government actions to reduce motor vehicle use, reduce or monitor greenhouse gas emissions and block other initiatives addressing climate change — activities the sponsors describe as Marxist. But critics say the measures, if made law, could reach deeply into Arizonans’ lives, banning climate action plans, prohibiting climate research at universities and even putting federal highway dollars at risk.They fear the bill is too broad, opening the door for a flood of lawsuits preventing government action.“Climate change is a problem. We need to be doing as much as we can to stop it from getting worse,” said Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson. “This bill with its long list of actions that would prohibit trying to address climate change in any way or any kind of environmental activity is the wrong way to go.”Senate Bill 1195 would prohibit using public money on anything “furthering Marxist ideologies,” which, as defined in the legislation, includes everything from reducing motor vehicle use with biking or public transit, limiting greenhouse gas emissions to decreasing meat or dairy consumption.Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, says he introduced the bill to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used for ideas or actions he sees as “anti-freedom.’ The measure passed through the Senate along party lines and has moved to the House for debate.“There is a move in our country to bring in Marxism, to bring in anti-God, pro-Marxist ideology, anti-freedom, anti-constitution,” Kern said during a February Senate hearing. “It’s a good, pro-freedom bill.”Kern did not respond to The Arizona Republic’s requests for comment. He is part of an o …
