Climate Politics
All Stories
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Connaughton in the Act
Bush Environmental Advisor Plays Powerful Behind-the-Scenes Role He might just be the most powerful environmental player you’ve never heard of. James Connaughton, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is credited with (or, in some circles, accused of) being the architect of the Bush administration’s environmental policy. In large part, his role consists […]
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That’s Terror-bull
Rules Aimed at Curbing Funding for Terrorists Could Hurt Nonprofits Small environmental groups and other nonprofits around the globe could see important funding sources dry up as the U.S. government tries to stop the diversion of charitable funds to terrorist groups. The Treasury Department, which says crooked Islamic charities are major financiers of global terrorism, […]
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Howard’s Beginning
Howard Dean Calls for Renewables, Fuel Efficiency, Global Cooperation Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean delivered the first major environmental speech of his campaign in San Francisco yesterday, calling for increased use of renewable resources, better fuel efficiency, and the elevation of the U.S. EPA to a cabinet-level agency. Specifically, Dean said that as president, he […]
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He Issa Dud
Environmentalists unleashed a barrage of criticism yesterday against Rep. Darrell Issa (R), who bankrolled much of the campaign to recall California Gov. Gray Davis (D) and is now running for the gubernatorial spot himself. “His voting record in Congress is absolutely abysmal,” said Rico Mastrodonato, executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters. Mastrodonato’s […]
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It’s Not a Gas, Gas, Gas
In a rare disagreement with his oil and gas buddies, President Bush is resisting pressure to institute a tax break that would pave the way for a 3,600-mile pipeline to carry natural gas from Alaska to the lower 48 states. The administration supports construction of a “commercially viable” pipeline, according to a position paper sent […]
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Brown Study
The Bush administration will announce today the details of its 10-year plan to study climate change and determine whether human activity or natural occurrences are causing the Earth’s atmosphere to heat up. The Climate Change Science Program will compile expertise from 13 federal agencies that collectively spend $4.5 billion on climate-change related programs; it will […]
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Parks Stuck in Neutral
The Bush administration defended itself yesterday against charges of neglecting the national park system, saying it has spent billions to maintain and repair parks around the country. According to U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton, $2.9 billion has been spent on a maintenance and repair backlog and 900 related projects have been completed; in addition, she […]
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Clear and Present Danger?
For months, the U.S. EPA has withheld findings indicating that President Bush’s proposed “Clear Skies” legislation would lead to more pollution-related deaths than a bipartisan Senate bill to fight air pollution, and that the bipartisan bill would not be much more costly than Clear Skies. A leaked copy of the EPA’s data showed, among other […]
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Clear Skies Looking Dirty
One of President Bush’s most ambitious environmental proposals is in jeopardy — the goal of cutting mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants 46 percent by 2010. Many in the utility industry are complaining that such a requirement, which is part of Bush’s “Clear Skies” legislation, would cost far more than expected and could force some […]
