Why Are GOP State Lawmakers Introducing Bills Based on Claims by Fringe Conspiracy Theorists?
Why Are GOP State Lawmakers Introducing Bills Based on Claims by Fringe Conspiracy Theorists?
For years, conspiracy theorists made wild claims about 'chemtrails,' 5G WIFI, and geoengineering. Now, GOP lawmakers in several states have introduced bills based on claims by conspiracy theorists.
UPDATE: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed SB 2691 (4/12/24)
UPDATE: Tennessee legislature has passed SB 2691 (4/3/24)
“HB 2063/SB 2691, which House Republicans gave final passage to Monday, bans the ‘intentional injection, release, or dispersion’ of chemicals within Tennessee ‘with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.’” [Nashville Tennessean]
There have always been conspiracy theorists on the fringes of Republican Party politics, however, during the past several years conspiracy theorists have increasingly infiltrated the mainstream the Republican Party. The latest example of the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories has been the recent number of bills introduced in state legislatures that purport to ban so-called “chemtrails.”
Tennessee state senators recently voted to approve a bill which prohibits “the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.”
SB 2691, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown), never specifically mentions the dubious claims made by conspiracy theorists about the dangers of so-called “chemtrails,” however, when speaking about the bill, Southerland directly mentioned “chemtrails.”
“If you look at a thousand planes, you won’t see one (chemtrail). But then all of a sudden you see one,” Southerland told the Tennessee Lookout. “So we’re just asking the question: Are they putting anything in the air that could be toxic?”
The “chemtrails” conspiracy theory is the belief that condensation trails or vapor trails left in the sky from aircraft flying at high altitudes are actually some form of chemical or biological agents, which are being purposely released into the atmosphere for nefarious purposes including weather modification, phycological operations, or even population control.
More recently, the adherents of the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory have made claims that the purpose of the contrails is connected to a global conspiracy to use geoengineering technology to change the climate. While there are various types of geoengineering technologies that are being develop for climate change mitigation, none of the claims made by the supporters of the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory are based in reality.
Tennessee lawmakers are not alone in introducing legislation that includes similar language, appearing to a reference the so-called "chemtrails" conspiracy theory (or other related conspiracy theories).
In Pennsylvania, Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), the right-wing Republican, published a memo to state senate colleagues seeking co-sponsors of legislation that would “ban the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals, chemical compounds, or substances within the borders of Pennsylvania into the atmosphere for purposes of affecting temperature, weather, or intensity of sunlight.”
Mastriano’s memo also mention that his proposed legislation would “mirror legislation that recently passed in the Tennessee.”
Similar legislation has been introduced in at least six other states:
Rhode Island: Sen. Elaine Morgan (R-Hopkinton) introduced SB 2540, which would "prohibit stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), solar radiation modification (SRM) experimentation, and other hazardous weather engineering activities."
Kentucky: Rep. Steve Rawlings (R-Burlington) introduced HB 506, which prohibits anyone from engaging in “any form of geoengineering activities,” which includes any “intentional manipulation of the environment, through an atmospheric polluting activity, to effect changes to the earth's atmosphere or surface.”
Minnesota: Rep. Jeff Dotseth (R-Silver Township) introduced a HB 4687, which would prohibit anyone from engaging in “polluting atmospheric activity or use an unmarked or unidentified aircraft or other vehicle or facility.”
New Hampshire: Rep. Jason Gerhard (R-Northfield) introduced HB 1700, which would ban "intentional release of polluting emissions, including cloud seeding, weather modification, excessive electromagnetic radio frequency, and microwave radiation."
South Dakota: Sen. Tom Pischke (R-Dell Rapids) introduced SB 215, which would prohibit the "intentional release of polluting emissions into the atmosphere by cloud seeding, weather modification, excessive electromagnetic radio frequency and microwave radiation.
While most of these bills don't appear to have widespread support or significant traction in state legislatures ― the fact that the Tennessee state senate passed SB 2691 (and GOP lawmakers tendency to embraced and advocate for public policy based on conspiracy theories), means there’s a nonzero chance these types of bills could become a mainstream policy proposal within the Republican Party.
Since 2014, there have been at least two dozen bills introduced in state legislatures that mention terms including “geoengineering” or “stratospheric aerosol injection” or “solar radiation modification,” and half of these bills have been introduced this year.
Who are the conspiracy theorists lobbying for these bills?
The language in these bills appears to based on model legislation created and promoted by fringe conspiracy theorists, and connected to group which operates a website that claims to advocate for "shutting down pollution-generating atmospheric modification schemes": Zero Geoengineering.
In addition to promoting conspiracy theories about “chemtrails,” the group operates a network of connected websites that promote conspiracy theories about 5G networks and WIFI, food and other products produced using genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Jolie Diane, who publishes the network of websites, has promoted these conspiracy theories by appearing on various online programs, as well as appearing at state legislative committee hearings and reportedly attending a secret meeting with local county officials in York County, Pennsylvania.
The “chemtrails” conspiracy theory is a popular subject of conversation in online spaces where conspiracy theorists gather, and the conspiracy theory has often been promoted by various right-wing media outlets including InfoWars and The Gateway Pundit. The QAnon community has also embraced the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory, and the conspiracy theory has been promoted by prominent and influential QAnon influencers such as MJ Truth.
Paul Harrell, the far right conspiracy theorist and host of the Millstone Report on the Stew Peters Network, devoted the first half of a recent program to discussing the legislation currently under consideration in Tennessee. Harrell told his audience “it’s no longer a conspiracy theory” and “our government lies to us constantly,” as well as speculating about possible government conspiracies and claiming without evidence that “chemtrails” are not present in the sky near U.S. Air Force military bases.
Who are the lawmakers introducing these bills?
So, who are the Republican lawmakers introducing bills appear to be based on model legislation created and promoted by a fringe conspiracy theory group?
Sen. Elaine Morgan, the sponsor of SB 2540, has a history of making controversial statements and embracing far right conspiracy theories, including making statements suggesting that Syrian refugees should be segregated into camps, sharing a post on social media that blamed left-wing activists for the Capitol Riot, and sponsored legislation that would prohibit "mandating or coercing" anyone from taking a vaccine.
Rep. Jason Gerhard, the sponsor of HB 1700, served more than 12-years in prison for his involvement with the infamous anti-government anti-tax extremists Ed and Elaine Brown. Gerhard was also arrested in 2021, along with two other men, for reportedly “placing anti-mask stickers on Manchester City Hall.”
Earlier this year, Gerhard introduced a proposed amendment to the state constitution, declaring that if the United State debt reaches $40 trillion, then “New Hampshire shall secede from the union.” Gerhard reportedly “tried to align himself with secessionists in Texas,” and sent a letter to the “head of the Texas Nationalist Movement.”
Gerhard has cited the claims of groups promoting the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory.
After the Science, Technology and Energy committee voted against recommending the approval of HB 170, Gerhard posted a video on Twitter/X asking for his constituents to “reach out to your representatives” in support of the bill, and included a link to the website of Zero Geoengineering. Gerhard also posted a video on Twitter/X produced by another conspiracy theory group.
The GOP has become a living breathing onion article.
Aren't these the same people who don't believe that climate change is happening?