Politics
Midnight regulations and how the Obama administration can improve federal regulation
There has been a lot of talk about “midnight regulations” issued or initiated by the Bush administration in its final days (including the one that is the subject of this post by Holly). Outgoing presidents, starting at least with Jimmy Carter, have had a practice of issuing many new regulatory decisions in a hurry as they leave office, with …
CONTINUE READINGDrill baby drill?
Remember last year when gas was at $4 a gallon, and candidates were falling all over themselves to explain how they would bring that price down? Two longstanding moratoria against oil and gas development in federal waters fell to that political pressure. In July, George W. Bush lifted an executive ban, initially issued by his …
Continue reading “Drill baby drill?”
CONTINUE READINGRalph’s Pretty Good Stimulus: A Missed Opportunity
A Prairie Home Companion is sponsored by, among others, Ralph’s Pretty Good Grocery: “If you can’t find it at Ralph’s, you can probably get along without it.”That’s my initial and preliminary take on some of the energy and transportation provisions of the stimulus, although a lot that isn’t in there we probably can’t get along …
Continue reading “Ralph’s Pretty Good Stimulus: A Missed Opportunity”
CONTINUE READINGThe Bush Legacy
The New York Times has a story this morning that tries to summarize Bush’s environmental legacy. As the story points out, there are positive notes, like the diesel regulations and the last-minute designation of marine sanctuaries. Yet, the overall message is negative. The Bush Administration will largely be remembered as a time of environmental setbacks …
Continue reading “The Bush Legacy”
CONTINUE READINGAre Law Professors Good Political Appointees?
I just got off the phone with a Bloomberg News reporter asking me about Harvard Law Professor Jody Freeman’s appointment as counselor to Carol Browner. After singing Jody’s’ praises (of which there are a great many) he asked me a more general question that has me thinking. Is it a good thing for Obama to …
Continue reading “Are Law Professors Good Political Appointees?”
CONTINUE READINGHeads out of the sand on water supply risks
Last month the Senate passed S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. Buried in the depths of the lengthy bill is an important section called “Secure Water” which is intended to ensure that the nation understands and confronts the effects of climate change on water supply. It would require that the Department of Interior …
Continue reading “Heads out of the sand on water supply risks”
CONTINUE READINGEarth, we’re just not that into you
As part of the continual fallout from last month’s Pew poll on the country’s “top priorities” for 2009, which ranked the issue of global warming dead last, I’ve found myself in several conversations recently about terminology. Assuming one believes that this ranking is too low, is part of the problem the poll’s use of the term …
Continue reading “Earth, we’re just not that into you”
CONTINUE READINGWhy Does Larry Summers Want to Accelerate Climate Change?
I’ve never been a huge fan of Greenpeace: although I like much of the work they do, it has always seemed to me that they are more interested in headlines than the slogging work it takes to promote sustainability. But they had a great idea a few days ago: commission the respected private corporate consulting …
Continue reading “Why Does Larry Summers Want to Accelerate Climate Change?”
CONTINUE READINGQuote of the Day
“We have long suspected that the new administration would stress environmental enforcement activities at a faster clip than the last administration, and I think we’re seeing that,” said Scott Segal, director of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, which represents utilities. The quote referred to DOJ’s filing of an enforcement action involving new source standards.
CONTINUE READINGSweet and Sour Pork
Like any good observant lapsed Jew, I’m always on the lookout for tasty pork. But as Jonathan discussed on this blog, the highway pork in the stimulus bill is looking most unsavory — especially relative to the sweeter meats of public transit funding. No doubt, money for public transit agencies would go a long way …
Continue reading “Sweet and Sour Pork”
CONTINUE READINGJoin Our Mailing List
Climate policy is changing rapidly. Stay in the loop with expert analysis via email Monday - Friday.
