Watching Government: Obama adjusts agenda

Nov. 15, 2010
The day after congressional Democrats took what he termed "a shellacking" in midterm elections, US President Barack Obama told reporters that he was ready to seek compromises with Republicans, and that energy would be a good place to start.

Nick Snow
Washington Editor

The day after congressional Democrats took what he termed "a shellacking" in midterm elections, US President Barack Obama told reporters that he was ready to seek compromises with Republicans, and that energy would be a good place to start.

"I don't think there's anybody in America who thinks that we've got an energy policy that works the way it needs to [and who] thinks that we shouldn't be working on energy independence," he said in a Nov. 3 press conference.

"That gives opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to come together and think about, whether it's natural gas or energy efficiency or how we can build electric cars in this country, how we move forward on that agenda," he said.

Obama said he thought many Republicans ran against the energy bill the House approved in 2009.

The measure, cosponsored by Reps. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of its Energy and Environment Subcommittee, contained a provision to establish a domestic carbon cap-and-trade program.

Republicans argued that it would impose unreasonable costs on US manufacturers and consumers.

Obama, who called HR 2454 reasonable and sensible following its passage, said of cap-and-trade on Nov. 3: "It was a means, not an end. And I'm going to be looking for other means to address [global climate change]."

EPA and GHGs

The president noted that the US Environmental Protection Agency is developing regulations to control greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act in response to a 2007 US Supreme Court decision that said the agency has that authority.

Obama suggested that instead of trying to restrict EPA's activities in this area, congressional Republicans and Democrats "who are serious about energy independence and are serious about keeping our air clean and our water clean and dealing with the issue of greenhouse gases" should find other ways to make progress in the short term and invest in GHG control technologies in the long term.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.), the Energy and Natural Resources Committee's ranking minority member who introduced legislation early in 2010 to halt EPA's GHG regulation development, responded on Nov. 4 that there are several possible steps that can be taken.

"But I also believe we must first preempt EPA from meddling in the work of Congress when it comes to settling climate policies," she said.

Obama said on Nov. 3, "I think EPA wants help from the legislature on this," adding, "I don't think that the desire is to somehow be protective of their powers here. I think what they want to do is make sure that the issue is being dealt with."

More Oil & Gas Journal Current Issue Articles
More Oil & Gas Journal Archives Issue Articles
View Oil and Gas Articles on PennEnergy.com