The Political Climate: an ongoing commentary on the NH Primary and Climate Change

Three campaigns visited the Granite State this weekend and were greeted with perfect summer weather and questions about global warming.  Our review of their positions begins with Senator Chris Dodd.  At a stop in Amherst on Saturday, he discussed the Iraq war and global warming.  He connected the war to our energy policy, explaining that the issue of energy independence is a national security issue.  He then moved on to clarify his plan.  He discussed the problem of price gaps between renewables and non-renewables and stressed the importance of implementing a tax on carbon and a system of cap and trade to close that price gap.  He asked the audience why citizens would pay $300 billion on foreign oil, but not $50 billion to fast track renewable technologies.  After the speech he personally lauded the work of the Carbon Coalition, and we thank him for his acknowledgement.

Also in the state was Rep. Tom Tancredo, who spoke in Littleton to the Union Methodist Church.  Tancredo acknowledged that global warming is occurring and stressed that something must be done even if humans are not the cause.  In his speech he stated:

“Research is not conclusive on either side of the issue.  Is it natural?  Most evidence does not substantiate that it comes from human activity(???), but we do need to move away from petroleum based products for security reasons.  We’re giving billions of dollars to nations who are figuring out ways to kill us!  I believe that nuclear energy is the answer, and we need to move quickly to reduce carbons in our atmosphere.” (for more go here)

The third candidate in the state this weekend was Sen. Barak Obama.  Obama was in the WMUR studios as part of the ‘conservation with the candidates’ series and at the New Hampshire Technical College.  He addressed global warming at both events.  We thanked Obama for clarifying his position on liquefied coal in our June 14th blog.  He talked about last Friday’s Senate vote concerning fuel efficiency standards.  He noted that the bill was progress, but that he did not think they had finished the job.  He explained that he tried to include an additional 4% increase on efficiency every year (more on the WMUR conversation here).  He was upset about the provisions that failed “in the face of furious lobbying” from the oil industry.  In the end Obama stated that America did not get the, “long lasting solution that America needs to break its dependency on foreign oil” (full transcript here). 

The Senate passed a key bill yesterday which the New York Times called a “major defeat for car manufacturers”- we call it a victory for the environment.  The bill significantly raises fuel efficiency standards for the first time in twenty years from an average of 25 to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.  It also mandates an increase in the use of bio fuels.  Though it was a step toward reducing carbon emissions, two important proposals were dropped from the bill before its passing:  1) Increased taxation on oil companies that would have created major incentives for research into renewable technologies; and 2) a proposal requiring utility companies to increase their share of power from renewables.

This bill provided the presidential candidates who are now incumbent senators a major opportunity to strengthen their environmental voting record.  A ‘yea’ vote for this bill boosts fuel economy.  This is especially important in New Hampshire, a state where 33.3% of the population commutes to work outside of their resident community, higher than the national average.  (For the complete CEP report click here and go to ’US State Reports’)  That being said, here is how the candidates voted:

• Joe Biden, yea
• Sam Brownback, not voting
• Hillary Clinton, yea
• Chris Dodd, yea
• John McCain, not voting
• Barak Obama, yea

(For a complete voting record click here) 

Though 20 Republicans and 45 Democrats voted in favor, the two Republican Senators running for President did not vote.  We understand the time and energy that is needed to focus on fundraising and the campaign and make no assumptions about the two candidates absent from the vote.  That being said, it would be interesting to hear Senator Brownback and Senator McCain’s position on this issue and the bill.  We urge all of the candidates to clarify their positions on both the fuel efficiency standards and the provisions that failed.  Hopefully this won’t be the last time we see legislation about tax incentives for research and development of renewable energy sources.

Add another rock to the pile of evidence that global warming is not a partisan issue.  Yesterday, conservative blogger GraniteGrok announced “Grok Blogger joins with Carbon Coalition” in its efforts to combat global warming.  Saying he’s “gone green,” GraniteGrok added his two cents about how important it is to hold local governments accountable for greenhouse gas emissions.  His blog includes the text of a proposal that he hand delivered to his town Board of Selectmen.  The proposal calls for action in response to the town’s passage of the Climate Change Resolution.  He’s even volunteering his time to be on the town’s local energy committee.  We’re pleased to add GraniteGrok to the long list of NH conservatives concerned about this issue.

Also on the list are known Republicans Ray Burton and Jim O’Brien.  In their April op-ed from the Concord Monitor, the duo noted that “Conservation and environmental protection are no longer a movement of the political left” and that “it is a mistake to view climate change, or conservation issues in general, through a partisan lens.”  They cite polling data which identifies 82% of Republican primary voters who favor acting now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

On a similar note, 84 of the 164 towns that passed the Climate Change Resolution this past spring voted for Bush/Cheney in 2004 and 99 voted for Republican Sen. John Sununu in 2002.  With Republicans and Democrats coming together, could climate change be the most pressing bipartisan issue for the ‘08 Presidential race?

After a six year stint, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg severed his ties with the Republican Party on Tuesday.  His announcement sparked a firestorm of rumors within the political blogoshere about whether his departure is a symbolic first step toward entering the 2008 presidential race as an Independent.  In his announcement he says he came to this decision because of his dissatisfaction with partisan politics which he believes are hindering the federal government from tackling major problems.  (Read more about his departure here.)

Bloomberg sees anthropogenic warming as a serious threat.  In a Time Magazine article he stated, “Unfortunately, partisan politics has immobilized Washington, but the public wants this problem solved.  Cities can’t wait any longer for national governments to act.”  His friendships with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and business mogul Warren Buffet symbolize how the corporate world and state and municipal governments are taking action to combat global warming independent from federal government.

Last month, Bloomberg hosted the C40 Largest Cities Climate Summit, which brought together leaders from the largest cities in the world to discuss how they can soften their cities’ carbon footprints.  He has also pledged that New York City will meet the emissions reductions standards of the Kyoto Protocol; 30% by 2030.

If these rumors prove to be true, as an independent, Bloomberg will enter the race with a resume that will raise the global warming bar for all candidates.