Nancy Pelosi

How green will the economic stimulus package be?

Attention in Washington is focused on an economic stimulus plan, which will be the first major agenda item for the new Congress that convenes tomorrow, and for the new president when he's sworn in on Jan. 20. But how green will the stimulus package be?

In his radio/YouTube address on Saturday, Obama said his proposal -- dubbed the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan" -- would create 3 million new jobs, 80 percent of them in the private sector, including jobs in the renewable-energy and efficiency industries. "To put people back to work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will double renewable-energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient," he said.

While Obama mentioned that a portion of the stimulus funding would go to repairing roads and bridges, he did not mention funding for public transportation, which many environmental groups and transit advocates are hoping will receive a substantial investment.

On Sunday, Obama's advisers said his plan will include $300 billion in tax cuts for workers and businesses, a move to appease conservatives who are concerned about government spending. The tax cuts would account for approximately 40 percent of the total package, which is likely to total between $675 billion and $775 billion over two years.

On Monday, President-elect Barack Obama met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other leaders from both parties on the Hill about his plan. "The reason we are here today is because the people can't wait. We have an extraordinary economic challenge ahead of us," he said.

Pelosi confirms intent to maintain the House global warming committee; Markey stays on

Yesterday, I posted on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plans for the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which is scheduled to dissolve at the end of the year. Signs pointed to her intent to keep the committee going for another session. In a press conference today, she confirmed it: It is my intention […]

Pelosi may keep House Global Warming Committee going

Ed Markey. In the wake of news that Henry Waxman will take over the House Energy and Commerce Committee, there’s been some speculation that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would scrap the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which she created this past session to throw a spotlight on climate change. (The committee is […]

Rep. Dingell’s supporters upset House Speaker

Earlier this week, members of Michigan Rep. John Dingell‘s “whip team” — the group formed to rally support behind his chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee — sent a letter to their Democratic colleagues urging them to join the team. “Please join us in our strong, unwavering support for the re-election of John Dingell […]

Pelosi wants a stimulus package that includes green measures

In her post-election press conference yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) affirmed her desire that a new economic stimulus plan — which could be taken up in a lame-duck session of Congress later this month — include green measures: The economy, of course, is the top item on the agenda as we go forward, and […]

Tensions mounting among House Dems as Waxman lobbies to replace Dingell

More from Politico on Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) challenging John Dingell for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Apparently, some on the Hill are accusing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of “plotting to overthrow” Dingell: But there’s a history of bad blood between Dingell and Pelosi — she stripped him of authority over global […]

Fate of House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming up in the air

The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, created by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the start of the 110th Congress, is set to dissolve at the end of the month, reports The Hill. The authority and the funding granted to the committee expires at the end of next week, and it’s […]

House Democrats unveil their energy package

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday unveiled an official version of the “Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act,” the House Democrats’ version of energy legislation slated for consideration next week. The bill would allow drilling 100 miles off the Atlantic coast and Florida’s Gulf coast; the buffer zone could be reduced to […]

Speaker’s radio address aimed at blunting GOP message on energy

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) took up the “drill more, drill now” refrain Saturday in the Democrats’ weekly radio address, offering up a list of policy proposals intended to show that Democrats do indeed care about high gas and energy prices. Here’s the YouTube version (text can be found here): Pelosi bashes the Bush administration […]