INTERESTING WALL STEET ARTICLE - Obama Is Likely to Use Executive Power To Halt Drilling
NOVEMBER 10, 2008 Obama Is Likely to Use Executive Power To Halt Drilling, Fund Stem-Cell Work
By JONATHAN WEISMANArticle
Comments
more in Politics »President-elect Barack Obama will likely use his executive powers after taking office to block new drilling leases on environmentally sensitive land in Utah and to allow federal funding of stem-cell research, putting a quick mark on policy making.
Barack Obama
"There's a lot the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action," John Podesta, head of Mr. Obama's transition team, said on "Fox News Sunday."
Mr. Podesta said Mr. Obama is "a transformational figure" and that the support he received among voters in some Republican states and conservative counties gives him a mandate to pursue his agenda aggressively.
Rolling back executive orders issued by the Bush administration could give Mr. Obama a fast way to put his mark on policy making after he takes office, as past presidents have. Other Bush-era executive orders that Mr. Obama could reverse include a ban on federal aid to family-planning organizations that counsel women on abortion, and a decision in December that restricts California in regulating greenhouse-gas emissions from cars.
The Bush administration has been rushing to implement regulations before Mr. Obama takes office. Unlike with executive orders, some of these would take longer for Mr. Obama and the Democrats to roll back.
One Bush-era measure Mr. Obama is likely to address quickly are the new oil and gas leases approved recently by the Department of Interior that would open up for drilling land near Arches and Canyonlands national parks in southern Utah's desert. Environmentalists said drilling in the area could potentially damage the parks and surrounding land.
Mr. Obama could also lift restrictions placed by President George W. Bush on the type of stem-cell research that can be funded with federal dollars. Democratic congressional leaders have vowed to push a twice-vetoed stem-cell research bill as one of the first acts of the next Congress.
Rahm Emanuel
Mr. Podesta and other top Obama aides fanned out on the Sunday news talk shows, suggesting that after Tuesday's electoral sweep, the incoming administration would begin to try to influence policy making before January's inauguration.
Speaking on the Sunday shows, Mr. Podesta, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and transition Co-Chair Valerie Jarrett touched upon the detailed preparations the Obama team has made to pave the way for a smooth transition to the presidency. Mr. Podesta said his team has been working since early August, with transition leaders meeting frequently with officials in the Bush White House. About 100 Obama aides received security clearance before the election, so they could begin accessing national-security information immediately after Mr. Obama won.
Mr. Emanuel said the president-elect would be moving forward with his entire agenda as soon as he is sworn in. That agenda includes achieving universal health care, increasing education funding, implementing middle-class tax cuts and moving the country toward energy independence.
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Political Perceptions: A Realignment or Stars in Alignment?The first priority will be implementing an economic stimulus plan that includes tax rebates for the middle class and funding for infrastructure and school construction, Mr. Emanuel said. Then the new administration would regroup and push what he called the president-elect's four "reforms": education, health care, energy and taxes.
By putting those agenda items under the rubric of reform, Mr. Emanuel might make them more politically palatable. But any changes could also be implemented more gradually, as the Obama administration would pursue them as broader policy goals rather than specific legislation.
Mr. Emanuel, appearing on ABC's "This Week," didn't comment directly on whether Mr. Obama would back calls from senior Democratic lawmakers for Mr. Bush to allow ailing U.S. auto makers to tap a $700 billion fund set up to help the financial industry. But senior Obama economic advisers clarified that the president-elect supports the Democratic lawmakers' proposal to review the legality of making the funds available to the auto makers.
Ms. Jarrett, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," dismissed criticism from some Republicans that the appointment of Mr. Emanuel, a brash, Democratic street fighter who had served for years in the U.S. House, marked a break from Mr. Obama's pledge to move beyond partisan battles in Washington. Joking that Mr. Emanuel will become kinder and gentler, Ms. Jarrett said: "That's part of the change we've been talking about."
By JONATHAN WEISMANArticle
Comments
more in Politics »President-elect Barack Obama will likely use his executive powers after taking office to block new drilling leases on environmentally sensitive land in Utah and to allow federal funding of stem-cell research, putting a quick mark on policy making.
Barack Obama
"There's a lot the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action," John Podesta, head of Mr. Obama's transition team, said on "Fox News Sunday."
Mr. Podesta said Mr. Obama is "a transformational figure" and that the support he received among voters in some Republican states and conservative counties gives him a mandate to pursue his agenda aggressively.
Rolling back executive orders issued by the Bush administration could give Mr. Obama a fast way to put his mark on policy making after he takes office, as past presidents have. Other Bush-era executive orders that Mr. Obama could reverse include a ban on federal aid to family-planning organizations that counsel women on abortion, and a decision in December that restricts California in regulating greenhouse-gas emissions from cars.
The Bush administration has been rushing to implement regulations before Mr. Obama takes office. Unlike with executive orders, some of these would take longer for Mr. Obama and the Democrats to roll back.
One Bush-era measure Mr. Obama is likely to address quickly are the new oil and gas leases approved recently by the Department of Interior that would open up for drilling land near Arches and Canyonlands national parks in southern Utah's desert. Environmentalists said drilling in the area could potentially damage the parks and surrounding land.
Mr. Obama could also lift restrictions placed by President George W. Bush on the type of stem-cell research that can be funded with federal dollars. Democratic congressional leaders have vowed to push a twice-vetoed stem-cell research bill as one of the first acts of the next Congress.
Rahm Emanuel
Mr. Podesta and other top Obama aides fanned out on the Sunday news talk shows, suggesting that after Tuesday's electoral sweep, the incoming administration would begin to try to influence policy making before January's inauguration.
Speaking on the Sunday shows, Mr. Podesta, incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and transition Co-Chair Valerie Jarrett touched upon the detailed preparations the Obama team has made to pave the way for a smooth transition to the presidency. Mr. Podesta said his team has been working since early August, with transition leaders meeting frequently with officials in the Bush White House. About 100 Obama aides received security clearance before the election, so they could begin accessing national-security information immediately after Mr. Obama won.
Mr. Emanuel said the president-elect would be moving forward with his entire agenda as soon as he is sworn in. That agenda includes achieving universal health care, increasing education funding, implementing middle-class tax cuts and moving the country toward energy independence.
More
Political Perceptions: A Realignment or Stars in Alignment?The first priority will be implementing an economic stimulus plan that includes tax rebates for the middle class and funding for infrastructure and school construction, Mr. Emanuel said. Then the new administration would regroup and push what he called the president-elect's four "reforms": education, health care, energy and taxes.
By putting those agenda items under the rubric of reform, Mr. Emanuel might make them more politically palatable. But any changes could also be implemented more gradually, as the Obama administration would pursue them as broader policy goals rather than specific legislation.
Mr. Emanuel, appearing on ABC's "This Week," didn't comment directly on whether Mr. Obama would back calls from senior Democratic lawmakers for Mr. Bush to allow ailing U.S. auto makers to tap a $700 billion fund set up to help the financial industry. But senior Obama economic advisers clarified that the president-elect supports the Democratic lawmakers' proposal to review the legality of making the funds available to the auto makers.
Ms. Jarrett, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," dismissed criticism from some Republicans that the appointment of Mr. Emanuel, a brash, Democratic street fighter who had served for years in the U.S. House, marked a break from Mr. Obama's pledge to move beyond partisan battles in Washington. Joking that Mr. Emanuel will become kinder and gentler, Ms. Jarrett said: "That's part of the change we've been talking about."
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by intrepid on
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Obama was bought and paid for and at a cheap price by the Arabs and Muslims overseas to acquire the American Presidency just like they would buy an office building or a tract of timberland.
His declared intent is to turn America over to those who would destroy her.
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Permalink Reply by Martin on
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Where as W sold us out to his buddies for free..... The O&G folks bought the presidency for Bush.... As for destroying us, I think AIG, UBS, Phil Graham, et al. have made a pretty good first cut at destroying us ... all brought to you by the Republicans....
"His declared intent is to turn America over to those who would destroy her" and where and when pray tell did he say this? Hate to confuse you with fact questions, but we really want to know -- or this just more Lee Atwater - Carl Rove lies?
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Permalink Reply by Martin on
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Bill G ---
Before you write off manufacturing, you should investigate the following question: What country in the world which exports the greatest cash value of manufactured goods? Russia, China, Japan, who is it? It's Germany. Nasty socialist Germany -- which has a national health care program, extensive labour unions, and no free trade treaties that I know of. Maybe we should emulate them? I do agree about energy Independence but in renewable energy -- and not ethanol. And not "Drill here, Drill there, Drill everywhere..."
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Permalink Reply by Two Dogs, Pirate on -
Martin, so you are against drilling the Haynesville Shale?
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Permalink Reply by Bill G on
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KB, You need to be on Obama staff.....No joke/ Ur a little to left for me.... but you have more Knowledge and common since than any of these clowns he has appointed thus far! Where do you apply? Although Your probably to honest and havent done enough shady and Illegal stuff to fit in at the big white house! Your resume' may look good but your file at the court house is probably to clean! LOL! Admit it KB, If this guy does what he sais he is going to do he will destroy this capitolist society. A very High % of people with incomes over 250K voted for him....(Obama) do you know why? Do you know something we dont?
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Permalink Reply by Grice on
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For the simple minded people, such as myself, can you tell us what those differences are?
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Permalink Reply by Grillin' - MmmMmm on
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KB: could you list a couple of those "environmental hazards" related to drilling in the western "national parks". And when you have done that, could you list the "hazards" to drilling in ANWR? That beautiful place that a) no one ever goes to and b) 99% of Americans couldn't point to on a map if you spotted the state of Alaska to them.
I'm cracking up over all of the supposed "environmental hazards" related to drilling. It was okay in Texas and Louisiana but not in Colorado and Utah??? C'mon on! We in the O&G industry can drill wells and leave an are with very little impact. Its been proven. Particularly areas where there are no people!
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Permalink Reply by Ron Jon on
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Hazard in American SW:
The chief concern is risk to the Colorado River watershed, which feeds Lake Meade. Lake Meade is a major water source for much of the SW (Phoenix, Las Vegas, et al) including Arizona, Nevada, parts of Colorado and more.
I agree exploration can be done responsibly (often is: see current Gulf of Mexico stats) and there are rules to ensure that; however, much of the Bush Administration’s time and efforts have been spent gutting those departments that enforce such rules & regulations.
Also, I have worked in O&G is the west. A major problem with compliance to federal and state law is you are so far out in BFE that you won’t get inspected due to lack of personnel and schedule demand, which leads to lax practice in the field.
Bottom line is there are environmental hazards but it can be explored and developed responsibly. However, will it be done in this manner with no oversight? I think not, take a look at the financial markets. In general, self regulation does not work when the stakes are that high. I think this slippery slope is the crux of the argument.
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Permalink Reply by Anna Mauck-Member Services on
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I get extremely FRUSTRATED at Obama and other environmentalists who say drilling = mass land destruction! Come on now! Not in this day and age where we are all mindful of caring for our lands. We NEED to drill for national security reasons and economic ones too. But they'll stop Bush's progress b/c of their narrow-minded thinking.
I want a bumper sticker that reads "DON'T BLAME ME - I VOTED MCCAIN/PALIN".
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