Green Options » Boxer

Economic Stimulus Package Proposed Barrasso Amendment Would Exempt Projects from NEPA

Jennifer Lance — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:03:28 +0000

The economic Stimulus Package passage is needed immediately, according to President Barack Obama; however, partisan politics is interfering as usual and the environment is taking the heat. Consider the Barrasso NEPA amendment proposed by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who has confirmed his opposition to the package.

The Barrasso amendment would exempt any project funded by the Economic Stimulus Plan from a normal National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) review.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency:

“The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions.”

Bush Gets Schooled by the Senate On Environmental Policy

Jerry James Stone — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:21:29 +0000

The Senate met today to review Bush’s environmental record. It was sparked by the EPA’s denial of a California waiver to regulate automotive greenhouse gases.

The committee entitled, “Bush Administration Environmental Record at Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency,” met today. Senator Barbara Boxer called the hearing to explore how the administration has held up with respect to environmental integrity. A driving force behind the committee was the denial of California’s petition to curb greenhouse emissions by allowing the state to regulate vehicular fuel efficiency. The hearing was also looking into a proposal to loosen rules protecting endangered species. You can watch a full video of the hearing here.

Boxer, who is chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, wasn’t too happy when two high-level officials at the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Interior failed to show up for the hearing.

“They’re cowardly and they have been a danger to the people of this country,” Boxer said.

Below is just a taste of what Bush and Co have been up to since taking office.

A History of Bush’s Environmental Record

Proposed drilling of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - October 2000, this was a campaign trail proposition!
Blocks safeguards on arsenic in drinking water, sulfur in diesel, and releases of raw sewage - January 2001, Inauguration Day
Bush repudiates the Kyoto Protocol - March, 2001
178 Countries agree to Kyoto, Bush does not - June 2001
Bush kills more of Clinton’s safeguards on drinking water - July 2001
Bush cuts funds for renewables - February 2002
Introduces “Clear Skies” initiative which allows for more air pollution - February 2002
Bush denies EPA findings on Global Warming - June 2002
Proposes removing wetland protections - January 2003
EPA silences effects of global warming in environmental report - June 2003
Creates “Healthy Forrest” initiative which allows more logging - December 2003
Bush delays mercury reduction for 18 years - January 2004
NASA scientists censored by Administration on global warming effects - October 2004
Promises more funding for renewables in State of the Union, breaks the promise five days later - February 2005
Bush supports House bill allowing more smog - October 2005
Wants to lower the price of gas at the expense of air quality - April 2006
Cuts funds for wind and geothermal energy - February 2007
Bush blocks G8 plans to reduce global warming pollution - June 2007
Bush opposes incentives for renewables - February 2008
Bush censors reports on climate change, again - April 2008

Oh, and that image was specifically chosen for the “Dance of the Dwarfs” title. Made me think of our little “Decider.”

Image source: umjanedoan on Flickr

Forget Cap and Trade; Cap and Dividend is the Way Forward

Amiel Blajchman — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:01:24 +0000

Well how’s this for getting your ideas out: In the July 10th issue of Rolling Stone, Barrack Obama was questioned on how he plans on achieving an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. According to Obama:

Whenever you transition to a new technology or a new way of thinking about structuring our economy, the old is going to resist the new. The key is to make the new profitable, job-generating and appealing enough that more and more people embrace the new and let go of the old. That’s where government can play a role. If we institute a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, that’s going to generate billions of dollars. Now, that’s also going to mean higher electricity prices for consumers, so a huge chunk of that has to go back to consumers in the form of rebates, so they don’t feel the pinch as badly. [author's highlight]
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It’s Time to Start Paying Attention to John McCain’s Ideas on Climate Change

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:45:43 +0000

Thus far, the Democrats have dominated the media’s attentions as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton battle it for the nomination. True, it is hard to ignore innuendos about RFK’s assassination; however, it is time we start paying attention to the Republican nominee John McCain. Personally, I can’t imagine he will be elected, but I have been wrong before with my election predictions, and it is important to know where he stands on climate change.

Two weeks ago while campaigning in Oregon, McCain stood amongst wind turbines to talk climate change:

Instead of idly debating the precise extent of global warming, or the precise timeline of global warming, we need to deal with the central facts of rising temperatures, rising waters, and all the endless troubles that global warming will bring. We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great.

I agree with McCain on many levels, but what exactly are his climate change strategies beyond political rhetoric? According to Plenty Magazine, “He proposes a cap-and-trade scheme that will limit greenhouse gas emissions to sixty percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050;” however, scientists, Obama, and Clinton recommend 80 percent reductions. McCain does not favor allowing companies to buy extra carbon allowances, and he supports carbon offsetting. The problem with McCain’s ideas on climate change is he supports tax payer subsidies for nuclear power and has voted several times against a renewable energy standard.