TPMDC Energy: March 2011
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
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