Republicans // Current TV

Chris Hedges discusses the NDAA and what it could mean for journalists.

This is a very important topic, and an excellent interview. It addresses what may, or... more

ClassicalGas
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11 days ago
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118 comments

Wisconsin GOP: ‘Right-To-Work’ Legislation Drafted, Ready To Go (VIDEO)

The Wisconsin GOP has been especially bold in their plans to hand the state over to... more

FreeSpiritMuse
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14 days ago
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1 comment

“The Obama Administration’s Green Energy Gamble”

In an attempt to keep the political war against renewable energy in the headlines, Republicans are holding another hearing to question the value of government investments in the sector.

Looks like ten political sideshows on Solyndra weren’t enough.

If tomorrow morning’s hearing were being used as a chance to objectively assess where the industry stands, that would be one thing. But the title of the meeting gives away the real political intent: “The Obama Administration’s Green Energy Gamble: What Have All The Taxpayer Subsidies Achieved?”

Actually, those green energy investments have yielded substantial returns. And before the political grandstanding begins in the House of Representatives tomorrow, here are five important things you should know about how promotion of clean energy has supported American businesses and consumers:

1. The 1603 grant program supported up to 75,000 jobs and 23,000 renewable energy projects during the height of the recession. When the recession hit, it was very difficult for project developers to find banks that were willing to utilize tax credits. So a cash grant program was created to give companies an easier way to finance projects. While it’s very difficult to know the exact influence of the grant on each project, the program played a major role in maintaining momentum — helping support $25 billion in gross economic activity, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

2. The production tax credit helps leverage up to $20 billion in private investment annually. With this key tax credit in place, the wind industry has dropped costs by 90% over the last few decades. It’s helped states like Iowa reach 20% wind penetration — bringing that state over 215 businesses that support 5,000 workers. Across the rest of the U.S., the entire industry supports 75,000 jobs, with 30,000 in manufacturing. However, up to 37,000 of those jobs could be at risk due Congressional lawmakers’ inability to extend the tax credit.

3. The loan guarantee program is expected to cost $2 billion less than budgeted. This program has gotten a black eye due to the bankruptcies of a few companies — most famously Solyndra — that received guarantees. But according to John McCain’s National Finance Chairman, Herb Allison, the cost to taxpayers will likely be far less than initially thought. In fact, over the last 20 years of experience, the U.S. government has shown a knack for managing risk — with loans and loan guarantee programs only costing tax payers 94 cents for every $100 dollars invested.

4. Home weatherization grew 1000% from April to June of 2011, creating 14,800 jobs. After a slow ramp-up, efficiency programs supported by the stimulus package have helped weatherize hundreds of thousands of homes. In addition to supporting the retrofits of individual homes, the Obama administration has supported the Better Buildings Initiative, a program that has leveraged billions of private dollars to upgrade more than 4 billion square feet of public and private buildings in the next two years. That’s enough demand to support over 100,000 jobs.

5. ARPA-E has supported dozens of potentially groundbreaking technologies in advanced materials, renewable fuels, electricity generation, waste heat, and battery storage. Helping enhance America’s lead in technological innovation, the Advanced Research Research Projects Agency for Energy — initially funded through the stimulus package — has helped inventors, companies, and university labs boost their work. This program has immense bi-partisan support for promoting the “innovative research that makes America great and has fueled our economic growth for generations.”

Despite these successes, Republicans continue milking the Solyndra bankruptcy for an election-year story that doesn’t hold up — dragging the rest of the clean energy industry into the mud.

The sector has gone through some high-profile shake-ups and bankruptcies, so it’s the duty of lawmakers to understand how tax payer dollars are being deployed. That’s a supportable endeavor. But holding yet another hearing to lambast the President for a so-called “gamble” in clean energy isn’t productive for anyone.

By Stephen Lacey on May 15, 2012 at 4:57 pmIn an attempt to keep the political war against renewable energy in the headlines,... more

coolplanet
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15 days ago
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23 comments

Should DOW Chemical get a veto over government scientists?

A relatively obscure Congressional hearing on Tuesday became a flashpoint in a very important conflict: the attempt by the chemical industry — led by Dow Chemical – to gain a veto over the work of government scientists. This time, however, the scientists fought back, and they need our support.

The hearing was a joint project of the House Small Business Committee and House Science Committee. It focused on how a government report on cancer-causing chemicals is hurting “small business” in America. The Report on Carcinogens, which recently classified formaldehyde as a “known carcinogen” and styrene as a “reasonably anticipated” human carcinogen was under attack. It is a statutorily mandated report that is prepared by the highly respected National Toxicology Program (NTP).

The hearing is part of a disturbing pattern of political intimidation of government scientists for doing their jobs. Companies that make and use both chemicals launched an attack on the report even before it was published and its publication was delayed for years. It took political courage for Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to allow the report to be released, and I was told phones rang off the hook at the White House from chemical industry lobbyists complaining about the decision.

The Report itself does not restrict the chemicals it names. The findings can be used by regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to decide if any changes are needed to environmental rules, but they mostly inform the public and the marketplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that its safety data sheets be updated when the Report lists a chemical, a basic right-to-know measure for American workers.

So what was Dow complaining about at Tuesday’s hearing? Dow’s chief scientist Jim Bus effectively said that the NTP doesn’t do good science. Dow does good science. And the agency needs to give Dow and other companies a greater say in determinations like this for them to be credible with the public.

Never mind that the woman who runs the NTP and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences — Dr. Linda Birnbaum — is perhaps the most credentialed person on the planet on these matters. Never mind the exhaustive peer-review and outside consultation that already takes place. No, we need Dow more involved, because the public certainly thinks chemical makers are more credible judges of the products they make than public health scientists whose only mandate is to identify substances that may be harming public health.

The arrogance and self-serving nature of Dow’s position was breath-taking, but the upside of the hearing was that it was also obvious and fell flat. Representative Brad Miller (D-NC) deserves special credit for blowing the whistle on the hearing, by pointing out that the styrene industry took credit for the fact that the hearing was taking place. Miller and Representatives Richmond (D-LA) and Tonko (D-NY) pointed out that industry opponents who would exonerate styrene and formaldehyde were hardly more credible than the NTP. Overall, the show trial intended by the hearing backfired on the inquisitors, Subcommittee Chairs Broun (R-GA) and Ellmers (R-NC).

But the issue requires continued vigilance. Already, the United States has lost the leadership of the world on health and safety issues in favor of the European Union, and that has an impact on our ability to compete in a world market that increasingly demands safer products. The modest attempts by EPA Administrator Jackson to restore that leadership have not only been undermined by House Republicans but in some cases by industry allies in the White House who have blocked key reforms. The attempt to politically intimidate Dr. Birnbaum would bring this trend to a new low, however, because it would signal that companies like Dow can block even the most basic scientific work from seeing the light of day when it offends them.

So please ask your member of Congress to support the independence of government scientists like Dr. Birnbaum at the NTP, but please also take a moment to tell Dow to back off and let government scientists do their job.

by Andy Igrejas
Source: http://www.occupymonsanto360.org (http://s.tt/1aK8L)A relatively obscure Congressional hearing on Tuesday became a flashpoint in a very... more

JanforGore
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25 days ago
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7 comments

Chris Hedges and Michael Moore on Unfettered Capitalism

"Sadly I agree, we are no longer worthwhile Americans, we are simply a... more

KB723
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26 days ago
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70 comments

Meet the Press: Rachel Maddow on women

Top Republican Strategist Denies Women Are Paid Less Than Men This morning, during... more

KB723
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1 month ago
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77 comments

SNL mocks Romney for pandering to everyone

By Muriel Kane Sunday, April 8, 2012 18:52 EDT In a send-up of Mitt Romney’s... more

KB723
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1 month ago
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34 comments

Rick Warren: Mormonism ‘denies’ Christian doctrine

By David Edwards Sunday, April 8, 2012 12:06 EDT Evangelical Saddleback Church... more

KB723
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1 month ago
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41 comments

Former GOP Senator Slams Republicans For Refusing To Compromise On Taxes

In remarkably colorful terms, former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY) on Sunday lashed out at... more

FreeSpiritMuse
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3 days ago
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2 comments

Extending Bush Tax Cuts Front and Center on GOP’s Summer Agenda

So, while they’ve jettisoned any kind of relief for students saddled with... more

StewSteve
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3 days ago
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0 comments

Guest of Honor recalls White House dinner of Teddy and Booker! (Video Interview)

I can genuinely tell you that "Guest of Honor" by Deborah Davis is a gem of... more

andelman
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9 days ago
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0 comments

Virginia GOP Group Calls for Armed Revolution if Obama is Re-Elected

The Greene County Virginia GOP’s newsletter calls for an armed revolution should... more

StewSteve
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10 days ago
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2 comments

Doubts About Scouts, Part III: EXCLUSIVE -- Vatican Air Force Surveillance Photos Of Soviet-Style Girl Scout Encampments In Cuba and North Korea

Scandal grows

mfb1949
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11 days ago
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Spending, Taxes, And Deficits Are All Lower Today Than When Obama Took Office

Federal spending is lower now than it was when President Obama took office. I’ll... more

coolplanet
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15 days ago
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25 comments

TIME TO TAKE CHARGE

I think it is high time we all stand up and tell the bunch of jokers we call Congress... more

ebdotkom
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16 days ago
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Why Is the Conservative Brain More Fearful? The Alternate Reality Right-Wingers Inhabit Is Terrifying

Walk a mile in your ideological counterparts' shoes...if you dare. Consider... more

Vierotchka
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16 days ago
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448 comments

No War on Women? Our Big A** Chart Says You’re Wrong!

NOTE: No caterpillars were harmed in the making of this infographic. -------- No War... more

StewSteve
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19 days ago
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0 comments

WHACKO-TV THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Now that we know that it’s Obama vs. Romney in the winner-take-all election in... more

dwightdouglas
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20 days ago
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House Votes to Eliminate U.S. Census

The U.S. Census is a necessary tool of government, and has been in place since 1790... more

StewSteve
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20 days ago
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2 comments

Medical News: Researchers Discover A Shocking Link Between Inflamed Kidney Stones & Ted Nugent

Ted's got massive stones!

mfb1949
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21 days ago
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