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Obama's record on coal support


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In May 1998, at the urging of the state's coal industry, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill condemning the Kyoto global warming treaty and forbidding state efforts to regulate greenhouse gases.

Barack Obama voted "aye."

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee now calls climate change "one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation," and proposes cutting carbon emissions 80% by 2050. But as a state senator, from 1997 to 2004, he usually supported bills sought by coal interests, according to legislative records and interviews.

Obama is not the only politician whose public stance has shifted on global warming, which a scientific consensus says has been caused chiefly by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, who now backs limits on carbon emissions, was among 95 U.S. senators who voted in 1997 to oppose the Kyoto Protocol, an emissions reduction scheme that had been negotiated by then-vice president Al Gore.

Still, Obama, who touts his independence from special interests, made a point of embracing the coal industry as part of his quest for statewide office. When he ran for U.S. Senate in 2004, he was flanked by mine workers to proclaim that "there's always going to be a role for coal" in Illinois.

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Obama's other votes on coal in the state Senate included:

• In 1997, he voted to divert sales taxes to a fund for grants to help reopening closed coal mines and "incentives to attract new businesses that use coal."

• In 2001, Obama voted for legislation that offered $3.5 billion in loan guarantees to build coal-fired power plants with no ability to control carbon emissions.

• In 2003, he voted to allow $300 million in taxpayer-backed bonds to build or expand coal-fired power plants.

"You know, I am a strong supporter, I think, of downstate coal interests and our need to prop up and improve the outputs downstate," Obama said on the Senate floor before voting on the 2001 bill.
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I expect to see this from a Republican. I expected better from a Democrat.
JanforGore

13 responses // Obama's record on coal support

  • Thanks, JanforGore for sharing the facts of Obama's votes and actions in support of the coal industry from the beginning of his public service as a state senator in Illinois.
    Many were trying to get these facts about Obama's votes in support of coal, nuclear and fossil fuel energy industries (Obama's U.S. Senate vote for the Bush/Cheney Energy Bill), before he was annointed the presumptive democratic presidential nominee, but the truth of Obama's actions couldn't get traction under the blinding light of his pretty rhetoric.

    Senator Obama represents the interests of the state of Illinois which has major coal mining and industry and nuclear energy plants.

    Where are the innovative new green solar, wind and renewable energy plans Obama promised?
    TouchArt
  • I don't know where they are Touch Art...I don't see solar power in Illinois...and even in regards to Al Gore's challenge, he has not unequivocably stated he will abide by that 100% renewable energy in ten years. He just claimed he would "invest" in renewable energies as president. That doesn't mean he will work to wean this country off oil and coal, which actually should also be part of any healthcare plan as well. Very disappointing for me to see Al Gore endorse him. He should have kept his objectivity and then after the conventions and after he announced this challenge, look to see which candidate if any (since there are more than two) would actually put some teeth to his challenge. I sincerely doubt either McCain or Obama will be working that hard on it, especially considering they now both wish to continue war. Very disappointing. We really have only ourselves to keep their feet to the fire on this. And that is exactly what I intend to do come January 2009.
    JanforGore
  • Jan, we both tried to tell them, they wouldnt hear it. For the first time I wont be voting Democrat. And I definately wont be voting Republican either. Nader and his VP are looking a whole lot more interesting to me!
    needu
  • Yes, and you will be called a traitor for thinking for yourself in this country that supposedly is tolerable of all opinions. Amazing. That is the reason why I no longer have faith in political parties, because the "party" becomes more important thant the principles and we and this planet suffer for it everytime. Still waiting to see that change...
    JanforGore
  • Not to mention last year Obama co-sponsered a bill with Jim Bunning (R) KY to give tax credits in order to build a coal to liquid fuel refinery in eastern Ky . This will be built at the same time Mitch McConnell (R) KY, who struck deal with Peabody coal , will be building a liquid coal power generating station just outside Louisville,KY. These two projects will also include a cross state pipeline from refinery to power plant. I have to agree with needu on this , Nader is looking to be the candidate of the truely educated and environmentally aware.
    victimofcoal
  • Can anyone tell me what number this post is here now? It was just on the frontpage a couple minutes ago and now is nowhere to be seen at least in the first one hundred. Thanks. And a shame environmentalists really don't have a candidate we can vote for that would be allowed to actually 'win' an election in this country. Hell, you can't even talk about it here wihout getting the hook. Democracy my eye.
    JanforGore
  • Coal is king in the media. And noone is to point out the king is naked. Just say thanks and tell him how lovely his clothes are. I feel your pain Jan. I've been ignored on this for years.
    victimofcoal
  • http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_'You_can't_see_the_...
    the forest for the trees
    twodee
  • One can only hope that Obama is elected and that he listens to Al Gore and other scientists and realizes he has been in error in his thinking.

    It sickens me how many folks are naysayers and cannot conceive of change. As soon as Gore's speech was out there were all the folks saying why is wasn't possible to achieve it in 10 years. Hmmm me thinks they are the same folks who helped create this mess and probably got wealthy on it.
    MeganMcKenzie
    1 response to this
  • http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1816441656/Pekin-activists-...
    MGP is intending to build a new coal fired plant. They are currently using natural gas from Ameren (Nuclear power utility) but Ameren is cutting them off for some reason (probably just to see if they can get away with building a new coal plant). They actually produce ALCOHOL and could easily use the alcohol for energy production (i.e. see David Blume: Alcohol Can Be A Gas). Maybe you guys could all write and protest the new coal plant idea (I'm sure Obama won't) as acid rain travels far and dirty carbon adds to global warming and respiratory diseases. The address is at the bottom of the article.
    futuregen
  • Also note the spiritually deprived comments after the article. Bush is coming to Peoria tomorrow to visit the 13% of the people that still support him. The 13% seem to all live in Central Illinois. I'm doomed!!!!!!
    futuregen
  • We should be asking the people where he is Governor if he is a good one. What have he done for his own State?
    stopnoise

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