TPMDC Energy
Gas Prices
The Obama Oil Boom (CHART)
Until gas prices begin to come down, Republicans will continue to blame the spike on President Obama -- whose policies, they claim, have squelched U.S. energy production broadly.
"Over the past three years, President Obama has delayed, blocked, and restricted access to America's energy resources, leading to a seven percent drop in federal energy production and no real options to address the energy crisis we face today," wrote House Speaker John Boehner in a column published by his Ohio office. "[T]he administration's regulatory onslaught is having a direct impact here in Ohio. Most recently, GenOn Energy announced it will be closing plants in Avon Lake and Niles because of excessive government regulations. Reports indicate the company is unsure of how many, if any, of the jobs at those Ohio facilities it will be able to preserve. These job losses are a direct result of this administration's policies."
The argument has a tenuous connection to fuel and energy prices. But if Obama's held a heavy hand over American oil, surely it would be reflected in the labor market for extraction jobs, right?
Quite the opposite.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Energy, Environment, Gas Prices, Oil
Keystone XL
The Keystone Fight Is Uniting Tea Partiers With Environmentalists
In Washington, DC, the fight over the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline mostly divides common enemies: Republicans and Democrats; environmentalists and fossil fuel interests; big business and the federal bureaucracy.
But though the project exists in a state of suspended animation, TransCanada -- the company that wants to connect the tar sands in Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico -- is preparing to build anyhow. In particular, on the portion of the pipeline that would link Nebraska to Texas, TransCanada has threatened to use disputed eminent domain powers to condemn privately held land, over the owners' objections. And that's creating unusual allies -- Occupiers, Tea Partiers, environmentalists, individualists -- united to stop TransCanada from threatening water supplies, ancient artifacts, and people's basic property rights.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Business, Business Lobby, Energy, Environment, Keystone XL, Occupy Wall Street, Oil, Republicans, Tea Party
Gas Prices
The Truth About Political Attacks Over High Gas Prices
Image from Orla/ Shutterstock
One of Aristotle's laws of nature is that every time fuel prices rise, political snake oil salesmen come out of hiding to blame it on their enemies: They attribute (or implicitly link) cost spikes to the other party's policy decisions. The solution, they always say, lies in the policies they've advocated since what feels like the beginning of time.
This happens every few years, and every few years it's total nonsense.
Since it's happening again, and since the press seems once again more concerned about the political implications of rising gas prices than with actual forces driving them up, TPM turned to energy expert Robert Rapier for an analyst's view.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Energy, Gas Prices, Oil, Republicans
Solyndra
Key GOPer Supported Loan Guarantee Under Issa Attack
Rep. Darrell Issa in recent days has moved on from bashing the Obama administration's support for the failed solar-company Solyndra to training his sights on another federal loan guarantee -- $730 million for the U.S. subsidiary of a Russian steel company.
During an interview on Fox News Thursday, Issa said the loan for Severstal North America, which is based in Dearborn, Mich. "never should have passed the sniff test."
"We'd like to have a reversal on the commitment," Issa said of the $730 million Severstal loan. "...One of the great scandals here is, remember, this is just making steel, and as a matter of fact, the type of steel for which there's an excess in the market. But more importantly, the jobs that are being, quote, created here are being moved from other plants. So this is an example, no jobs created, not green energy, not necessary to make this happen, and not a U.S. investor. So on every possible count, the American people care about, this loan never should have passed the sniff test."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Darrell Issa, Energy, Energy Department, Fred Upton, Solyndra, White Powder, green jobs
Solyndra
GOP Tries, Fails To Keep Solyndra In Headlines
Late Wednesday, Republican press flacks blasted out a CNBC story whose headline claimed the Energy Department had altered Solyndra-related documents -- to shield the administration from further political embarrassment.
Here's a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner retweeting another Boehner spokesman, who claimed the Obama administration has been caught red handed. So busted!
Except nothing close to this ever happened, and CNBC has now corrected its headline.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Energy, Energy Department, John Boehner, Solyndra
Energy
Why Is One House Office Building Ditching Energy-Efficient Bulbs?
Is the House GOP waging war against energy efficient lightbulbs in its own building?
The hallway on the first floor of the House Cannon building on Capitol Hill was noticeably brighter than the second floor for most of the day today. That's because the Architect of the Capitol is replacing modern energy-efficient 150-watt lightbulbs (photo to left) with traditional 250-watt lightbulbs because an unknown member of Congress complained.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Energy
Environment
Why Far-Off Canadian Tar Sands Have Become A Make-Or-Break Issue For Obama With Enviros
For six days and counting now, hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the White House to demand President Obama intervene and stop the construction of an oil pipeline that will span the breadth of the United States -- from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico. Over 300 of them have been arrested -- and not just wild-eyed idealistic college students, but high-profile advocates including environmental leader Bill McKibben. Despite all this, the administration says this is a question for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
What the heck is this all about?
At issue isn't just NIMBYism or standard concerns about oil spills, but the question of whether the United States should accelerate an extraction process that some environmental experts say will lose the fight against global warming forever.
Topics: Barack Obama, Climate Change, EPA, Energy, Environment, Global Warming, Hillary Clinton, Oil, Oil Spill, State Department
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama Calls For Reform Of No Child Left Behind
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama called upon Congress to replace the No Child Left Behind Act, with states being given flexibility for education reform as has been done with his administration's "Race to the Top" grants.
"Our challenge now is to allow all fifty states to benefit from the success of Race to the Top," said Obama. "We need to promote reform that gets results while encouraging communities to figure out what's best for their kids. That why it's so important that Congress replace No Child Left Behind this year - so schools have that flexibility. Reform just can't wait."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, AIPAC, Barack Obama, Education, Energy, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Libya, NY-26, No Child Left Behind Act, Race to the Top, Roundup, War Powers Act
Gas Prices
House GOP: Great News On OBL -- Now How About Those Gas Prices?
GOP Leaders
The two-week congressional recess that just ended was, it's fair to say, a little less than quiet. Rowdy townhalls focused on the GOP's plan to end Medicare, the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate, capped off by the killing of Osama bin Laden. So on their first official day back to business on Capitol Hill, House Republican leaders attempted to shift the focus back to where they want it: gas prices.
Or, more succinctly, to shift the focus to the ways they say Democrats and President Obama are making Americans pay more at the pump. En masse, top leaders from the House GOP stood before the mics on Tuesday morning and tried to get the legislative session back on track by focusing on the issue they've said is a winner for them. Drilling, baby, drilling.
And after some talk about the bipartisan victory that is the death of bin Laden, the Republicans went right back to hammering Democrats over the cost of fuel.
Topics: Energy, Eric Cantor, Gas Prices, Jeb Hensarling, Kevin McCarthy, Marsha Blackburn
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: 'No Silver Bullet' For Gas Prices, 'But There Are A Few Things We Can Do'
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama discussed his administration's response to high gasoline prices.
"Now, whenever gas prices shoot up, like clockwork, you see politicians racing to the cameras, waving three-point plans for two dollar gas," said Obama. "You see people trying to grab headlines or score a few points. The truth is, there's no silver bullet that can bring down gas prices right away.
"But there are a few things we can do. This includes safe and responsible production of oil at home, which we are pursuing. In fact, last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003. On Thursday, my Attorney General also launched a task force with just one job: rooting out cases of fraud or manipulation in the oil markets that might affect gas prices, including any illegal activity by traders and speculators. We're going to make sure that no one is taking advantage of the American people for their own short-term gain. And another step we need to take is to finally end the $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies we give to the oil and gas companies each year. That's $4 billion of your money going to these companies when they're making record profits and you're paying near record prices at the pump. It has to stop."
Topics: Air Traffic Controllers, Barack Obama, Budget, Energy, Labor, Medicare, Mike Johanns, Roundup, unions
BP
BP To Cut Tax Bill By $13B But Won't Say What It's Paying IRS For 2010
An explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
BP plans to cut its overall tax bill by nearly $13 billion by writing off costs related to last year's mammoth oil spill as the Gulf Coast continues to grapple with the devastating environmental and economic costs of the disaster one year later.
The international oil giant suffered a $40.9 billion loss as a result of the oil spill, making its net losses for 2010 a total of $4.8 billion (BP had $36.1 billion in profits before factoring in the spill), according to its annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and analysis by several tax experts consulted by TPM.
Under U.S. corporate law, companies can take credits on up to 35 percent of their losses. In this case, that means U.S. taxpayers are indirectly subsidizing at least part of cleanup cost and the $20 billion fund BP created to compensate people, fisherman and businesses along the Gulf Coast hurt by the spill.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Barack Obama, EPA, Eliot Engel, Energy, Environment, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Justice Department, Tax Breaks, Tax Day
Continuing Resolution
Newly Released Spending Deal Targets Health, Environment, Energy
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
House Republicans and Senate Democrats have posted details of the bipartisan spending agreement that staved off a shutdown, providing a first look at where the $39.9 billion of cuts come from on a program by program basis.
Republican priorities can be seen throughout the agreement, with reduced funding for enforcing environmental regulation, scientific research, health care, and education all leaping out.
One of the hardest hit institutions is the Environmental Protection Agency, whose power Republicans have sought to curtail in recent years through a variety of legislative means. The agency will receive $1.6 billion less in funding than current levels, a 16 percent drop, including a $49 million reduction in climate change programs and $149 million cut to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In a press release, Senate Appropriation Committee Democrats noted that the EPA cuts, while tough, were nearly $1.6 billion less than Republicans' original proposal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also saw a $142 million reduction in funding and is prohibited from creating a Climate Service.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Continuing Resolution, Education, Energy, Environment, Harry Reid, Health Care, John Boehner
Japan
Japan's Nuclear Aftershocks Hit Obama's Energy Policy
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko
President Obama's plan to overhaul the nation's energy policy, already beset by strong GOP opposition in Congress and the BP oil spill, is facing a new setback as Japan struggles to prevent multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns in the aftermath of Friday's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
The President's call for the government to support a new generation of nuclear power plants as part of his "clean energy" agenda is under intense new scrutiny since several nuclear reactors at multiple power plants in Japan were stricken by a cascading series of natural disasters and other failures.
Topics: Barack Obama, Energy, Japan, Jay Carney, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Tsunami
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama Promotes Women's Equality
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama marked Women's History Month, and promoted his administration's work to achieve equality for women.
"Achieving equality and opportunity for women isn't just important to me as President," said Obama. "It's something I care about deeply as the father of two daughters who wants to see his girls grow up in a world where there are no limits to what they can achieve."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Abortion, Barack Obama, Budget, Continuing Resolution, Energy, Lisa Murkowski, Oil, Reince Priebus, Roundup, Scott Walker, Wisconsin , Wisconsin Protests, Wisconsin State Legislature
Energy
Rand Paul: I Have Less Choice In Toilets Than Women Have In Abortions (VIDEO)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is upset that the federal government has squelched his right to own a super-toilet, leaving him with less freedom than women, who are still allowed to have abortions. It's an unusual comparison, but it's meant to underline his opposition to the executive branch's involvement in encouraging energy efficiency.
In a Senate hearing, Paul laid in to Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant energy secretary for efficiency, for imposing restrictions and fines meant to encourage people to use environmentally friendly appliances.
"It's not that I'm against conservation -- I'm all for energy conservation," Paul admitted. "But I wish you would come here to extol me [sic], to cajole, to encourage, to try to convince me that it would be a good idea to conserve energy. But you come instead with fines, threats of jail. ... This is what your energy efficiency standards are."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Abortion, Barack Obama, Energy, Environment, Rand Paul
House Energy & Commerce Committee
Meet John Shimkus: Anti-Climate Science GOPer Who May Head House Energy Panel
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
As we survey the Republicans set to take charge of House committee chairmanships, we can see how some of them have said the darnedest things. For example, just look at the possible next chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL).
The committee's current ranking GOPer, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), endangered his bid for the chairmanship this past June, when he publicly apologized to BP for the way they were cajoled into setting up a $20 billion escrow fund to compensate victims of that whole underwater oil geyser in the Gulf of Mexico.
But let's take a look at Shimkus, who is a key alternative candidate to Barton for that chairmanship, and his pronouncements on climate policy and other issues -- and how environmental catastrophes cannot possibly happen, because God will not allow it.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Climate Change, Energy, House Energy & Commerce Committee, John Shimkus
Federal Reserve
The Can't-Do Agenda: Six Initiatives The Senate Scrapped Ahead Of Their Recess
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
In the rush to close up shop for August recess, the Senate had one of its most productive days in recent memory Thursday. In a matter of hours, they passed a state aid bill, confirmed Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, confirmed dozens of other Obama nominees, including James Clapper as Director of National Intelligence, passed a border security bill, child nutrition legislation, and more.
Underneath all that, though, is a growing pile of initiatives that the Senate failed to take up. Here are the top items on the agenda the Senate didn't check off before adjourning.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Elena Kagan, Energy, Federal Reserve, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Harry Reid, Oil, Oil Spill, Peter Diamond, Pigford, Senate, Stimulus, Supreme Court, Taxes
Climate Change
Senate Democrats Drop BP-Climate Bill Until After Recess
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in the background.
Senate Democrats announced this afternoon they will go home for a month-long recess without taking action on a scaled-back energy measure that was their best chance for any legislation addressing the issue before the midterm elections. A voted had been scheduled on the energy bill, which would create jobs and establish new thresholds for BP's financial responsibility along the Gulf Coast.
With senators citing the hottest July on record, they bashed Republicans for not joining them on a bill they said would hold BP accountable for the oil spill and which would create incentives for green jobs.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared, "We are not giving up on energy," but pointedly said something would be accomplished by the "end of the year," not before the election. Republicans hopeful they could win back control of Congress this fall are cautioning Democrats against any major legislation during a lame-duck session.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Climate Change, Energy, Harry Reid, John Kerry, Senate Democrats
Energy
Energy Bill's Chances Sink Ahead Of August Recess
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Wither the stripped-down energy bill?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had hoped to pass a scaled-back energy bill ahead of August recess. But with only a week left until break, a packed schedule and an expected Republican filibuster, that's not looking very likely.
Democrats and Republicans remain most heavily divided over a provision in the Democrats' legislation that would eliminate a cap on liability for oil companies in the event of an offshore spill -- something Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last week called "an affront to those who are serious about enacting good policy."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Energy, Filibuster, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Harry Reid, Lisa Murkowski, Oil, Oil Spill, Senate
Energy
GOP Prepares To Oppose Dem Energy Bill Over Oil Spill Liability
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Despite the demise of climate change legislation last week, top Republicans are loudly opposing a new, scaled back energy bill unveiled by Senate Democrats last night.
At a press conference this morning with top Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called it a "cobbled-together bill," and GOP aides continue to raise the specter of a "national energy tax" despite the fact that the new legislation contains no tax on carbon emissions.
The Democratic plan, which is comprised of several measures (each of which has bipartisan support), may be in serious jeopardy, unless Democrats budge on one key issue: oil spill liability.
Topics: Cap-and-Trade, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, John Barrasso, Lisa Murkowski, Nuclear Energy, Oil, Oil Spill, Republicans
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Document Leak May Hurt Efforts to Build War Support
The New York Times reports on the political fallout from the posting of documents about the Afghanistan war: "Administration officials acknowledged that the documents, released on the Internet by an organization called WikiLeaks, will make it harder for Mr. Obama as he tries to hang on to public and Congressional support until the end of the year, when he has scheduled a review of the war effort. 'We don't know how to react,' one frustrated administration official said on Monday. 'This obviously puts Congress and the public in a bad mood.'"
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and will receive the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. He will meet at 11 a.m. ET with the Congressional leadership from both parties, will deliver a statement to the press at 12 p.m. ET, and will have lunch with House members at 12:20 p.m. ET. He will congratulate the Warner Robins Softball World Series Champions at 3:05 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4 p.m. ET with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. At 7 p.m. ET, he will attend a Democratic National Committee fundraising dinner.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Climate Change, Energy, Joe Biden, Roundup, Tax Cuts, Taxes
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama To Sign Financial Overhaul
President Obama will sign the financial reform bill this morning, in a high-profile signing ceremony. "These reforms represent the strongest consumer financial protections in history," Obama will say, according to pre-released excerpts. "And these protections will be enforced by a new consumer watchdog with just one job: looking out for people - not big banks, not lenders, not investment houses in the financial system."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and Obama will receive the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will meet with Biden at 10:45 a.m. ET. Then at 11:30 a.m. ET, Obama will sign the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Obama and Biden will have lunch with House members at 12:45 p.m. ET. Obama will meet with senior advisers at 2:30 p.m. ET. Obama will receive a briefing at 3:45 p.m. ET on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Energy, Financial Reform, Harry Reid, Jobs, Joe Biden, Roundup, Senate '10
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Wants Billions More In Energy Tax Credits
The Washington Post reports: "President Obama will call Friday morning for Congress to pass $5 billion in energy manufacturing tax credits, according to a White House official. The statement will come during an appearance with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The event is the last of several that Obama has held this week to highlight the administration's economic policies."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks on the economy at 12:05 p.m. ET in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will depart from Las Vegas at 1:15 p.m. ET, arriving at Andrews Air Force Base at 5:20 p.m. ET, and back at the White House at 5:35 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Barbara Boxer, CA-SEN, Energy, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, NV-SEN, Roundup, Senate '10
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: Republicans Blocking Votes In The Senate
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama attacked Senate Republicans for blocking votes on unemployment benefits, lifting the cap on corporate liability for oil spills, and on his appointments.
"All we ask for is a simple up or down vote," Obama said of the unemployment benefits. "That's what the American people deserve. Just like they deserve an up or down vote on legislation that would hold oil companies accountable for the disasters they cause - a vote that is also being blocked by the Republican leadership in the Senate. Right now, the law places a $75 million cap on the amount oil companies must pay to families and small businesses who suffer economic losses as a result of a spill like the one we're witnessing in the Gulf Coast. We should remove that cap. But the Republican leadership won't even allow a debate or a vote."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Barack Obama, Cap-and-Trade, Claire McCaskill, Elena Kagan, Energy, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton, Oil Spill, Roundup, Supreme Court, Supreme Court vacancy
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Prods G-20 On Economic Recovery
In a letter to G-20 countries, President Obama sought cooperation on strengthening the economic recovery, with language seemingly aimed at assuaging doubts over public finances while also promoting stimulus goals: "We must act together to strengthen the recovery. We need to commit to restore sustainable public finances in the medium term. And we should complete the work of financial repair and reform."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 10:15 a.m. ET, and depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:30 a.m. ET, arriving at 11:40 a.m. ET in Columbus, Ohio. He will tour a Recovery Act Highway Project site at 12:05 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks on the economy at 12:15 p.m. ET. He will depart form Columbus at 12:55 p.m. ET, arriving back at Andrews Air Force Base at 2 p.m. ET, and at the White House at 2:15 p.m. ET. He will meet at 2:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Topics: Barack Obama, Campaign Finance, Cap-and-Trade, Elena Kagan, Energy, Joe Biden, Roundup, Supreme Court, Supreme Court vacancy
Joe Barton
Joe Barton: A Look Back In Video
Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-TX)
Today's oil spill hearing ensures Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) will be entertaining YouTube audiences and warming Democratic hearts for weeks and months to come.
But we've been here before!
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Energy, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton
John Kerry
Kerry: We Don't Have 60 Votes For Climate Bill...Yet
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
With only days to go before Majority Leader Harry Reid unveils his forthcoming energy legislation, the Senate's lead climate change negotiator acknowledged today that he's shy of the 60 votes he'd need to overcome a filibuster if it includes provisions meant to mitigate global warming.
"Are we there? No," said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in response to a question from TPMDC this afternoon. "We don't have the 60 votes yet. I know that. But we're close, enough to be able to fight for it, and we'll see where we wind up."
Kerry has never claimed otherwise, and has always suggested that building a 60-plus vote coalition for climate legislation would be a tough climb. But his acknowledgment comes as other key Democratic members and chairmen are trying to prevent any plan to cap and price global warming pollution from coming to the floor without 60 votes in the bag. Just today, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), chair of the Democratic Policy Committee, publicly cast doubt on whether that's possible.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Byron Dorgan, Climate Change, Energy, Filibuster, Harry Reid, John Kerry, Lamar Alexander, Republicans
Climate Change
Schumer Walks Back Pessimistic Climate Change Prediction
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is now walking back his statements from earlier this morning, which cast serious doubt on the prospects of the Senate addressing climate change.
"To the senator's knowledge, no decisions have been made yet on the floor strategy for legislation addressing the nation's urgent energy challenges, nor is it his decision to make," says Schumer's spokesman Brian Fallon. "Senator Schumer speculated on one procedural option, but make no mistake: he believes climate change legislation is vital to our nation's energy security and looks forward to voting for it. He is working with his colleagues to get the strongest, most comprehensive bill possible and looks forward to discussions with the rest of the leadership later this week on how to best move forward."
Topics: Chuck Schumer, Climate Change, Energy, Harry Reid, Senate
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Kagan To Meet With Senators
Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is set to begin meeting with Senators today. However, it is not expected that she will give substantive answers about controversial issues or cases. As the Associated Press notes: "Unless she breaks the traditional silence of other recent Supreme Court nominees - something the nominee herself called for in 1995 - senators will have to vote on elevating Kagan to the nation's highest court without finding out where she really stands on today's hot-button topics."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. He will meet at 10:15 a.m. ET with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Obama and Karzai will hold a joint press conference at 11:15 a.m. ET, and have lunch at 12:25 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 2 p.m. ET with senior advisers.
Topics: 2010 elections, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Climate Change, Elena Kagan, Energy, Joe Lieberman, John Kerry, Mitch McConnell, Roundup, Supreme Court vacancy
Dixiecrats
Jackson-Lee: Graham On Immigration Reminds Me Of The Dixiecrats
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-TX) said today that the Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) promise to block immigration reform reminded her of rhetoric from old-guard southern segregationists in the 1960s.
Speaking at a presser criticizing the Arizona immigration bill, Lee said Graham's decision to call for his energy bill to be debated before immigration reform reminded her of southern senators who attempted to block civil rights legislation decades ago.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barbara Lee, Dixiecrats, Energy, Immigration, Lindsey Graham
Barack Obama
Obama Flip Flops On Drilling--But Was He Right Then Or Now?
President Barack Obama
When President Obama announced that he would open vast swaths of America's coastline up to offshore drilling, the media, and even some of Obama's greatest allies were quick to point out that he'd reversed an early campaign pledge.
"What wouldn't do a thing to lower gas prices is John McCain's new proposal -- a proposal adopted by George Bush as well -- to open up Florida's coast line to offshore drilling," Obama said on June 20, 2008, standing in front of a Florida shoreline. "Offshore drilling would not lower gas prices today. It would not lower gas prices tomorrow. It would not lower gas prices this year. It would not lower gas prices five years from now."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Climate Change, Democrats, Energy, Offshore Drilling, Oil
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