Analysis:

This Grand Rapids Press article examines a recent event held as part of a nationwide "Step It Up 2" event calling for a 80% reduction in carbon emission by 2050. While the article contained the primary demand of the campaign, it failed to cite any organizers or discuss specific stemps being sought by the campaign to reduce emission.

Representative Vern Ehlers is the only person cited in the article. Ehlers says that the environmental movement's efforts to draw attention to global warming have been successful and that there are few people in Congress now that doubt global warming. The article makes no mention of current efforts to address global warming in Congress or Ehlers' record on the environment.

Story:

GRAND RAPIDS -- West Michigan environmental groups today joined a national effort to call for legislation to reduce carbon emissions in the United States by 80 percent by 2050.

Today's event, attended by about 50, was part of the "Step it Up" campaign to demonstrate to federal, state and local lawmakers that environmental issues are of broad concern to the public.

The group's first event in April drew about 400 people and was one of about 1,400 events nationwide.

Today's event was held at The Rapid central station, the Grand Rapids area bus system's headquarters.

Congressman Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, told those gathered that efforts to convince members of Congress have worked. Only a handful of his colleagues still harbor doubts about the threat of climate change, compared to a decade ago when questions remained as to whether it was even a real issue.

"The good news is that we have passed a crucial point," Ehlers said. "The key questions 10 years ago were is global warming real, what's causing it and what can we do about it? Just about every member of Congress is at least past that first question."

Today's event was sponsored by the Sierra Club, West Michigan Environmental Action Council and the United Steelworkers of America Blue Green Alliance.