Climate Politics
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Democrats jockey for attention with their latest energy plans
As GOP leaders bluster about gay marriage, flag burning, and the “death tax,” Democrats are struggling to get a word in edgewise about the bevy of proposals they’ve been drafting to address more substantive national concerns — namely, soaring gas prices, dependence on oil from an increasingly volatile Middle East, and global warming. These are […]
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An interview with Dick Lugar, GOP crusader for energy independence
If you had to name the foreign-policy heavyweight who has brought more political muscle to the energy-independence crusade than any other, it would be Dick Lugar. Republican from Indiana and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lugar is no stranger to superlatives: Named one of the “10 Best Senators” in a recent issue of […]
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A Penny Saved Is a Penny Spurned
Bush admin looks to cut funding for energy efficiency To fund long-term research into speculative future energy sources, the Bush administration wants to cut guaranteed present-day energy savings: The proposed 2007 Energy Department budget would eliminate $152 million (roughly 16 percent) from its energy-efficiency programs. A program to improve the efficiency of heavy-duty trucks would […]
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Bush’s pick to head Treasury Department is conservationist as well as financier
Many green leaders joined the Washington establishment and Big Business this week in applauding President Bush’s nomination of Henry “Hank” Paulson — Wall Street titan and heavyweight conservationist — to replace outgoing Treasury Secretary John Snow and spearhead the administration’s economic policy making. But while Paulson proved popular in many circles, a handful of right-wing […]
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If At First You Don’t Succeed … Keep Not Succeeding
House passes legislation to drill in Arctic Refuge … again Here we go again: for the 947th time, the House has passed legislation that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. Less than six months before congressional elections, House Republicans are desperate to show they’re doing something about high gas prices. Of course, […]
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Me Too, Me Too!
Hillary Clinton touts new energy plan Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) outlined a plan yesterday to cut U.S. oil imports in half by 2025. Along with urging increased conservation (gasp), she proposed a “Strategic Energy Fund” financed by a temporary two-year fee on major oil-company profits, elimination of some oil tax breaks, and closure of a […]
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John Suttles, Southern environmental lawyer, answers questions
John Suttles. What work do you do? I’m a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. How does it relate to the environment? For the past 20 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center — the biggest environmental organization headquartered in the Southeast — has used the full power of the […]
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Kicked in the Arson
“Eco-terrorists” indicted in connection to Vail ski-resort arson Four people — dubbed “eco-terrorists” by the authorities, who aren’t at all trying to scare you — were indicted Thursday and face eight counts of arson in connection to fires set at a Vail, Colo., ski resort in 1998. A communiqué apparently released by the arsonists said […]
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Who Are You, and What Have You Done With Our House?
House shows its green side with votes on Interior Department bill The House of Representatives was on an eco-roll yesterday as it fixed up an Interior Department spending bill to send to the Senate. Over the objections of top Republicans, lawmakers approved 252-165 a measure that would put oil and gas companies on the hook […]
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Better Late Than Clever
Democrats unveil plan to cut dependence on oil imports Yesterday, Senate Democrats presented a proposal to cut U.S. dependence on oil imports 40 percent by 2020. The Clean EDGE Act contains nary a mention of increased fuel-economy standards, gas taxes, or other such excessively bold proposals; instead, it proclaims that ethanol will save us all. […]
