Mary Landrieu

Senate Republicans filibuster to protect oil-industry subsidies — after getting gusher of oil money

Cross-posted from Think Progress. On Tuesday night, Republicans in the Senate filibustered the majority’s attempt to repeal $21 billion in subsidies for the big five oil companies — the same companies that made over $30 billion in profits in just the first three months of 2011. While three out of four Americans believe ExxonMobil and […]

Anatomy of a Senate climate bill death

Ryan Lizza's recent New Yorker piece provides an interesting insider view of the rise and fall of climate legislation in the Senate. But Lizza gives short shrift to the real reasons Senate passage of climate legislation was impossible in 2010: the deep recession, unified and uncompromising opposition in the Senate, and big spending by oil, coal, and other energy interests. Let's take a close look at these factors.

Senator blocks budget director nominee over offshore drilling ban

Jack Lew, the would-be budget director, is sidelined by Louisiana Sen Mary Landrieu's attempts to force Obama to lift the offshore drilling moratorium

The Climate Post: Castro's secret meeting with scientists proves climate change is a communist plot

Read about the renewable energy standard's 11th-hour comeback, the Cancun climate summit, the White House's "sinister plot," and more.

Senators renew efforts to rein in EPA on regulating greenhouse gases

Well, that didn't take long. Congress is barely back in town and already there's talk of yet another attempt to rein in the EPA.

Does anyone take science seriously?

Politicians ignore them. Journalists distort what they say. No wonder scientists complain about getting no respect.

Will these critters be endangered by the Gulf gusher?

These congresscritters are top recipients of contributions from the oil and gas sector — and some of its most vocal supporters, even in the face of a catastrophically unpopular oil leak. Might the Gulf-spill mess threaten their survival? Well, don’t bet on it …  Photo: Republican Conference via Flickr Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) “I’m ashamed […]

Senate oil savings’ greatest hits

Is Congress moving us toward a fuel-efficient future? Plug-in hybrid electric cars could be the cars of tomorrow.Photo courtesy of Argonne National Laboratory Oil, oil, everywhere, but not a drop for fuel. This is the stark view of Gulf Coast residents who see a 24,500 square mile oil slick menacing their shores. The devastating BP […]

With Gulf-spill facts in short supply, spin takes center stage

You spin me right round …Photo: Pip WilsonFor all the fire-hose coverage of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, it’s a story with startlingly few known facts.  We don’t know how much oil has actually spilled out.  We don’t know where or when it will hit land. We don’t know exactly what’s in the chemical […]