Virginia Lawmaker: 'Sea Level Rise' Is 'Left-Wing Term'

Virginia lawmakers will study the dangers of sea level rise provided one phrase is never uttered: "sea level rise." Republican state lawmakers agreed to commission a study on the phenomenon as long as "left-wing" terms like "sea level rise" and "climate change" were removed. Democrats, wanting the study approved, agreed on the non-partisan phrase "recurrent flooding," National Memo reports.

Virginia is prone to flooding, and scientists say the state's sea level will rise by 2 or 3 feet over the next century. "So, whatever we have to call it, I've got no problem with that," an oceanographer tells the Virginian-Pilot. "What's the alternative? Do nothing?" Republican Del. Chris Stolle says he prefers the "flooding" term because that's what concerns Virginia residents: "Let's study that. So that's what I wanted us to call it." (More sea levels stories.)