In The News
Inhofe Human Events Op-Ed: Obama Trumpets Radical Energy Agenda
Monday June 21, 2010
One would think that, when it comes to the Gulf spill, our top priorities would be as follows: plug the leak, mitigate and clean up the environmental damage, and provide help to those affected by it. But as President Obama indicated in his Oval Office address last Tuesday night, he sees things quite differently.
In his address President Obama found occasion to trumpet his radical cap-and-trade agenda for the nation's energy sector. He referred approvingly to the disastrous Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill, which the House narrowly passed last summer. He sent clear signals that he wants the Senate to pass a "strong and comprehensive clean energy and climate bill," which are Obama code words for cap-and-trade, mandates, taxes, and bureaucracy.
But the Senate will pass no such legislation, because opposition to it runs deep. The vote on June 10 on Sen. Murkowski's (R-Alaska) resolution to overturn the Obama EPA's endangerment finding for greenhouse gases is a case in point. Though it failed, 47 to 53, it became clear as the debate progressed that there is a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate that either opposes any EPA greenhouse gas regulation, or wants such regulation delayed for two years. That latter option has been proposed by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D.-W.Va.), who voted for the Murkowski resolution.
In his address President Obama found occasion to trumpet his radical cap-and-trade agenda for the nation's energy sector. He referred approvingly to the disastrous Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill, which the House narrowly passed last summer. He sent clear signals that he wants the Senate to pass a "strong and comprehensive clean energy and climate bill," which are Obama code words for cap-and-trade, mandates, taxes, and bureaucracy.
But the Senate will pass no such legislation, because opposition to it runs deep. The vote on June 10 on Sen. Murkowski's (R-Alaska) resolution to overturn the Obama EPA's endangerment finding for greenhouse gases is a case in point. Though it failed, 47 to 53, it became clear as the debate progressed that there is a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate that either opposes any EPA greenhouse gas regulation, or wants such regulation delayed for two years. That latter option has been proposed by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D.-W.Va.), who voted for the Murkowski resolution.
Tulsa World: Sullivan, Inhofe speak out on spill
Monday June 21, 2010
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Sullivan said he was shocked by what the Oklahoma Republican saw as arrogance on the part of BP CEO Tony Hayward in testimony last week before a key House panel on the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"We must hold BP responsible for this spill, and questions still remain on why BP has one of the worst safety records of any major oil company operating in the United States,'' Sullivan said.
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe also has made it abundantly clear that he is no friend of BP.
Not only has Inhofe insisted that BP must be held accountable, he has gone out of his way, at least initially, to praise the Obama administration for its approach to the environmental disaster.
"We must hold BP responsible for this spill, and questions still remain on why BP has one of the worst safety records of any major oil company operating in the United States,'' Sullivan said.
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe also has made it abundantly clear that he is no friend of BP.
Not only has Inhofe insisted that BP must be held accountable, he has gone out of his way, at least initially, to praise the Obama administration for its approach to the environmental disaster.
Tulsa World: EPA delays enforcing lead-paint removal rule
Monday June 21, 2010
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe declared victory Friday in his months-long effort to provide relief to home renovators and others still scrambling to meet a federal agency's certification rules on lead-paint removal.
"I am very happy right now,'' the Oklahoma Republican said. "We won.''
Inhofe based his comments on a memo apparently from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency delaying enforcement of its own rule targeting work on homes built before 1978.
"Since the RRP (Renovation, Repair and Painting) Rule became effective on April 22, 2010, concerns have been raised by the regulated community regarding difficulties experienced in obtaining the rule required firm certification and renovation worker training,'' Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles states in the memo provided by Senate staff.
"I am very happy right now,'' the Oklahoma Republican said. "We won.''
Inhofe based his comments on a memo apparently from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency delaying enforcement of its own rule targeting work on homes built before 1978.
"Since the RRP (Renovation, Repair and Painting) Rule became effective on April 22, 2010, concerns have been raised by the regulated community regarding difficulties experienced in obtaining the rule required firm certification and renovation worker training,'' Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles states in the memo provided by Senate staff.
E&E; News: Senate Dems getting more pessimistic on carbon limits
Friday June 18, 2010
Senate Democrats may have emerged from their much-hyped caucus meeting without a clear plan for this summer's energy bill, but they appeared to agree on one point: Cap and trade doesn't have the votes.
Several senators say the chamber is unlikely to pass a measure that sets a price on carbon emissions this year, despite President Obama's support for such an approach and a push from many Democrats who say pricing carbon is needed to stop the adverse effects of climate change.
"I don't see 60 votes for a price on carbon right now," Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said yesterday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), an ardent supporter of setting carbon limits, said he does not think the Senate can get 60 votes this year on a "strong" climate bill.
Several senators say the chamber is unlikely to pass a measure that sets a price on carbon emissions this year, despite President Obama's support for such an approach and a push from many Democrats who say pricing carbon is needed to stop the adverse effects of climate change.
"I don't see 60 votes for a price on carbon right now," Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said yesterday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), an ardent supporter of setting carbon limits, said he does not think the Senate can get 60 votes this year on a "strong" climate bill.
WATCH: Newsmax: Inhofe: Obama Hasn't Made Good Decision Yet on Spill
Friday June 18, 2010
Sen. Jim Inhofe tells Newsmax that President Obama "hasn't made a good decision yet" on the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and his Tuesday night speech about the spill was his "worst moment."
The Oklahoma Republican also says Obama remains committed to a cap-and-trade bill - and charges that the Democrats are standing in the way of America's energy independence.
Inhofe, first elected in 1994, is the Ranking Republican on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee and a longtime opponent of cap-and-trade legislation to curb carbon emissions.
In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV, Inhofe was asked about the president's Tuesday speech from the Oval Office.
The Oklahoma Republican also says Obama remains committed to a cap-and-trade bill - and charges that the Democrats are standing in the way of America's energy independence.
Inhofe, first elected in 1994, is the Ranking Republican on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee and a longtime opponent of cap-and-trade legislation to curb carbon emissions.
In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV, Inhofe was asked about the president's Tuesday speech from the Oval Office.
LISTEN: Inhofe Comments on Barton BP Apology Remarks - Says We Must Hold BP's "Feet to the Fire"
Thursday June 17, 2010
Sen. Inhofe: Let me just share with you my thoughts. I’m no fan of BP, and I was listening as I was waiting to talk to you, and you were talking about their contributions to various funds and all that. BP has never been a very good friend of conservatives. In fact, they were actually behind the scenes with Kerry and Lieberman trying to do a cap-and-trade bill, trying to work out a deal where they’d be exempted. I’m just not a fan of BP. Now, how the President did this I have no…I probably wouldn’t have done it the same way. I want to make sure that BP is financially responsible for damage that they have done. Now, how he went about doing it, I was not in on that obviously, so I don’t know and quite frankly I’m not sure my friend Joe Barton said.
Fischer: Well, I think what Joe Barton was talking about is that the President essentially forced them…he informed them that they were going to put this 420 billion dollars in this escrow account. And I certainly agree with you with regard to BP, I mean, they essentially wrote that Kerry-Lieberman bill, their lobbyists, and it’s because they’re heavy into alternative sources of energy. So, I think they were looking for a big pay day.
Fischer: Well, I think what Joe Barton was talking about is that the President essentially forced them…he informed them that they were going to put this 420 billion dollars in this escrow account. And I certainly agree with you with regard to BP, I mean, they essentially wrote that Kerry-Lieberman bill, their lobbyists, and it’s because they’re heavy into alternative sources of energy. So, I think they were looking for a big pay day.
The Oklahoman: Sen. Jim Inhofe praises bipartisan opposition to removing energy tax credits and deductions
Thursday June 17, 2010
WASHINGTON - A strong Senate vote against raising taxes on the oil and gas industry was a bipartisan message that lawmakers don't want to punish all companies for the BP oil spill, Sen. Jim Inhofe said Wednesday.
Sen. Jim Inhofe praises bipartisan opposition to removing energy tax credits and deductions Inhofe, R-Tulsa, made the comment a day after he led the fight against a proposal to eliminate some of the tax credits and deductions available to exploration companies. The proposal was made by Sen. Bernard Sanders, a Vermont independent, as an amendment to a hodgepodge of a bill that would extend some current tax breaks as well as unemployment benefits.
Sanders' amendment would have repealed the tax credits that allow exploration companies to write off some of their expenses and depreciation. The proposal, which mirrors one made by President Barack Obama the last two years, would also have excluded energy exploration companies from the deduction available to U.S. manufacturers.
Sen. Jim Inhofe praises bipartisan opposition to removing energy tax credits and deductions Inhofe, R-Tulsa, made the comment a day after he led the fight against a proposal to eliminate some of the tax credits and deductions available to exploration companies. The proposal was made by Sen. Bernard Sanders, a Vermont independent, as an amendment to a hodgepodge of a bill that would extend some current tax breaks as well as unemployment benefits.
Sanders' amendment would have repealed the tax credits that allow exploration companies to write off some of their expenses and depreciation. The proposal, which mirrors one made by President Barack Obama the last two years, would also have excluded energy exploration companies from the deduction available to U.S. manufacturers.
LISTEN: Inhofe Exposes Dems New Game Plan on Cap-and-Tax
Inhofe a Guest on the Steve Malzberg Show
Wednesday June 16, 2010
President Obama and the Democrats leadership in Washington have a new plan to try and pass their global warming cap-and-trade agenda, Senator Inhofe warned today on the Steve Malzberg show.
"…let me tell you what’s going to happen, Steve. First of all, what he did say…I don’t think it was in the speech, but he said on the week of the 19th, that’s when we get back from the 4th of July, that he is going to have them pass some kind of an energy bill. And it doesn’t matter what it is, because he’s going to take that, put it in Conference with the Waxman-Markey bill. Now, he’ll leave it in Conference until after the November elections, then he’ll have all ten of the Democrats that we’re going to defeat…"
"The lame ducks will be there to vote for him. Now, he hasn’t counted very well, because he still can’t get there with that number. But can you imagine…and I hope all your guys, I know you have a sophisticated audience, but you’ve got to keep in mind what he’s talking about doing is deliberately forcing these people to come back afterwards, after they’ve lost the election and it’s all over, to try to pass something they were not able to pass otherwise."
The new plan has been reported in Politico and by the Washington Post.
"…let me tell you what’s going to happen, Steve. First of all, what he did say…I don’t think it was in the speech, but he said on the week of the 19th, that’s when we get back from the 4th of July, that he is going to have them pass some kind of an energy bill. And it doesn’t matter what it is, because he’s going to take that, put it in Conference with the Waxman-Markey bill. Now, he’ll leave it in Conference until after the November elections, then he’ll have all ten of the Democrats that we’re going to defeat…"
"The lame ducks will be there to vote for him. Now, he hasn’t counted very well, because he still can’t get there with that number. But can you imagine…and I hope all your guys, I know you have a sophisticated audience, but you’ve got to keep in mind what he’s talking about doing is deliberately forcing these people to come back afterwards, after they’ve lost the election and it’s all over, to try to pass something they were not able to pass otherwise."
The new plan has been reported in Politico and by the Washington Post.
Tulsa World: Response to ozone proposal criticized
Monday June 14, 2010
WASHINGTON - Stances carved out by Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and his lead air-quality agency on the Obama administration's push to beef up smog standards represent a lost chance to stand up for the state and weigh in on an issue with important economic consequences, some officials say.
As critics warned earlier this year that tougher ozone standards would force Tulsa County and at least a dozen others onto the dreaded dirty-air list, Henry and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality initially took a pass on commenting. Later, the state produced a softer response than one submitted when the Bush administration proposed tougher standards.
In the response, neither Henry, who endorsed President Obama in 2008, nor the DEQ, cited concerns the state spelled out in 2007 with the Bush proposal. DEQ took the unusual stance that it would not comment at all until the Obama administration made its decision.
As critics warned earlier this year that tougher ozone standards would force Tulsa County and at least a dozen others onto the dreaded dirty-air list, Henry and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality initially took a pass on commenting. Later, the state produced a softer response than one submitted when the Bush administration proposed tougher standards.
In the response, neither Henry, who endorsed President Obama in 2008, nor the DEQ, cited concerns the state spelled out in 2007 with the Bush proposal. DEQ took the unusual stance that it would not comment at all until the Obama administration made its decision.
Democrats Remain Divided on Cap and Trade - Reid: Please, Just Don't Call It "Cap and Trade" - Roll Call: Dems Want to Avoid Talking About Cap and Trade
Friday June 11, 2010
The Hill: Climate Unchanged on Energy Bill - Senate Democrats remained divided over whether to bring comprehensive climate change provisions to the floor next month as part of an energy bill, even as they celebrated Thursday's defeat of a GOP resolution viewed as a test vote on global warming legislation. By a vote of 47-53, senators rejected a procedural motion - and thus shelved a resolution (S J Res 26) sponsored by Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski that would have overturned an EPA finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and thus should be regulated under the Clean Air Act (PL 101-549)...Six Democrats joined all Republicans in supporting the measure. But the vote suggested that backers of climate change legislation probably remain a few votes short of the 60 they would need to overcome a filibuster.
