Grist | Topics | 638 Results

RESULTS		Results 126 – 150 of 638
Page:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 26
Headline	Author	Published	Section
Surely there must be some mistake	David Roberts	20 May 2008	Gristmill
Branch of U.S. federal government accidentally passes bill that would provide $1.7 billion in grant funding for public transit.
Topics: brilliance, legislation, placemaking, politics, public transportation (all these topics)

Safety pin Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing to stoke fear about the costs of climate legislation	Kate Sheppard	19 May 2008	Gristmill
Speaking of cost-containment and the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow on 'recent reports analyzing the energy and economic impacts of climate change legislation.' Many political observers see this as a move intended to scare up concern among Senate Democrats that meaningful action on global warming is just too dang expensive. Why interpret it that way? Because the committee is chai ...
Topics: carbon tax, carbon trading, climate, legislation, Muckraker, news, politics, US Senate (all these topics)

Boxer briefs Barbara Boxer circulates an outline of her amendment to Lieberman-Warner	Kate Sheppard	19 May 2008	Gristmill
On Friday, Senate Environment and Public Works chair Barbara Boxer released an outline of what promises to be the version of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act that actually gets debated and amended on the Senate floor in early June. David posted the full document summarizing the manager's amendment earlier today. It's only an outline, not the full text, but from a cursory glance, here are some significant differences from the previous incarnation of Lieberman-W ...
Topics: Barbara Boxer, climate, legislation, Muckraker, news, politics, US Senate (all these topics)

The 'maverick' speaks on agriculture McCain thunders against ag subsidies, vows fealty to trade agenda	Tom Philpott	19 May 2008	Gristmill
Speaking before the National Restaurant Association on Monday, John McCain delivered a stirring rant against agriculture subsidies and the latest farm bill (text here.) No doubt burnishing his "maverick" image among editorial writers, the senator lambasted the bill as a giveaway of "billions of dollars in subsidies to some of the biggest and richest agribusiness corporations in America -- many of which are heavy political contributors to members in bot ...
Topics: ag policy, ag subsidies, agriculture, John McCain, legislation, politics (all these topics)

Lieberman-Warner, new and ... different Sen. Boxer's summary of her Manager's Amendment to Lieberman-Warner	David Roberts	19 May 2008	Gristmill
On Friday, Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Barbara Boxer circulated a document summarizing her 'substitute amendment' to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. This is likely the version of the bill that will go to the floor. We'll post some analysis of how the bill has changed shortly, but for now, here's Boxer's entire summary (the full bill will likely be released later this week). Let us know what looks notable to you:
Topics: Barbara Boxer, climate, legislation, politics (all these topics)

Permit auctions: the mark of progressive cap-and-trade	David Roberts	19 May 2008	Gristmill
I missed this last week, but Kevin Drum is doing God's work explaining the difference between cap-and-auction and cap-and-giveaway to the progressive masses. I did the same thing here, but as usual used way too many words.
Topics: carbon tax, carbon trading, climate, legislation, politics (all these topics)

Bringing 'round the House The House is lagging behind the Senate on climate change	Kate Sheppard	19 May 2008	Gristmill
The Hill is ablaze with discussion of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which is expected to hit the Senate floor in early June. But on the House side, movement on climate legislation has been slow and quiet. Several bills have been floated, but none have gained any real traction. Everyone is waiting to see what comes out of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.) are collaborating on bill t ...
Topics: climate, legislation, Muckraker, news, politics, US House of Representatives (all these topics)

Hard to Stomach Federal food-aid package promotes GMOs		19 May 2008	News
Posted at 8:09 AM on 19 May 2008 A $770 million food-aid package proposed by the Bush administration may also aid U.S. agribiz, as the feds have slipped in language promoting the use of genetically modified crops in developing countries. Proponents of bioengineering say that GM crops are hardier in harsh climates and can produce higher yields; opponents say that just ain't the case. The food-aid package must be approved by Congress, and eve ...
Topics: Africa, agriculture, Big Ag, food, GMOs, legislation, news, politics (all these topics)

Them's the breaks 'Energy and Tax Extenders Act' clears committee, heads to House floor	Kate Sheppard	16 May 2008	Gristmill
The House advanced legislation yesterday that would renew billions of dollars in tax breaks for wind, solar, biomass, and other renewable energy sources, and extend a proposed new tax credit for biofuels derived from sources other than corn. The 'Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008' was approved by the Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 25-12. The total package, which also includes tax breaks for education and business expenses and expands the refundable child t ...
Topics: energy, legislation, Muckraker, news, politics (all these topics)

The Tale That Dogs the Ag Congress finally passes veto-proof farm bill		16 May 2008	News
Posted at 5:54 AM on 16 May 2008 Defying President Bush's veto threat, the Senate joined the House Thursday in voting "yay" on the $289 billion omnibus legislation that covers everything from farm subsidies to food stamps. In both chambers, support for the bill tallied strong enough to override Bush's threatened veto. The legislation has bitterly divided the sustainable-agriculture world. Supporters acknowledge the ...
Topics: agriculture, food, legislation, news, politics, United States (all these topics)

Bye-polar Kempthorne Polar bear is endangered, but 'Rule will allow continuation of vital energy production in Alaska'	Joseph Romm	14 May 2008	Gristmill
The Department of Interior suffers from a rare form of bipolar disorder called bye-polar disorder. There is one major symptom of this disorder: You list the polar bear as 'threatened' because of its melting polar sea ice habitat, but then do nothing to actually protect that polar habitat from its primary threat, greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The disorder is accompanied by an occasional burst of logic, as when the DOI noted: The polar bears nee ...
Topics: Arctic, Department of Interior, endangered species, habitat loss, legislation, polar bears, politics (all these topics)

As if! Will McCain bring conservatives with him on climate?	Joseph Romm	14 May 2008	Gristmill
A President McCain would have no magic wand to get conservatives to join a cause they simply don't believe in, much as he wasn't able to get them to join the cause for his McCain-Lieberman climate bill. As E&E News ($ub. req'd) reports today:Several key Capitol Hill Republicans stood defiant yesterday against the types of changes to U.S. global warming policy spelled out earlier this week by presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain ... 'I'm going to ...
Topics: climate, elections, John McCain, legislation, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics)

Loaded for bear? Polar bear decision expected today from Bush administration	Miles Grant	14 May 2008	Gristmill
This just in from Associated Press: The Interior Department has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to announce a decision on whether to list the polar bear as threatened and in need of protection under the Endangered Species Act.Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne proposed such protection 15 months ago because of the disappearance of Arctic sea ice, which is a primary habitat for the bear. Last September, scientists said up to two-thirds of the polar bears could d ...
Topics: Arctic, climate, endangered species, habitat loss, legislation, polar bears, politics (all these topics)

Like oil and vinegar Dems and GOP agree to stop filling Strategic Petroleum Reserve	Kate Sheppard	13 May 2008	Gristmill
The Senate today approved legislation to temporarily suspend deliveries to the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, by a vote of 97-1. The measure was inserted as an amendment to a flood insurance bill, and was opposed only by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.). The Energy Department sends 70,000 barrels of oil to the reserve every day, a practice that this legislation would put on hold until the end of 2008 or until oil drops below $75 a barrel, whichever comes first. ...
Topics: congress, energy, gas prices, legislation, Muckraker, news, oil, politics (all these topics)

Siding with the Bushies? Why a Bush veto of the farm bill is bad for the food movement (and the world)	Elanor Starmer	12 May 2008	Gristmill
My former boss in D.C. once said that if she ever found herself on the same side of an issue as the Bush administration, it was time to go back and look more closely: There must be a hidden agenda. That was the thought that struck me as I contemplated the administration's farm bill veto threat on Friday. I understand the calls from some in the sustainable-ag community to veto the farm bill (and thank Tom Philpott and the comment crew for outlining them). The argume ...
Topics: ag policy, agriculture, food, legislation, politics (all these topics)

McCain to endorse Lieberman-Warner? Candidate tips his hand at New Jersey event	Kate Sheppard	11 May 2008	Gristmill
In his remarks in Jersey City, N.J., on Friday, GOP presidential contender John McCain appeared to offer an off-handed endorsement of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. 'I hope it will pass,' he told the crowd, 'and I hope the entire Congress will join in supporting it and the president of the United States would sign it.' While he's offered tepid support for the bill before, he's hesitated to fully endorse it and has suggested that he'd like to see more sub ...
Topics: climate, John McCain, legislation, Muckraker, news, politics (all these topics)

Cause of death: apathy Lieberman-Warner moved from critical condition to the morgue	Joseph Romm	08 May 2008	Gristmill
The fading hopes for the Lieberman-Warner climate bill have all but ended (see E&E News, 'Sponsors lower expectations for Lieberman-Warner bill,' $ub. req'd, reprinted below). Serious climate legislation had been in critical condition for some months (see 'Boucher lets conservatives block House climate bill' and 'Don't hold your breath on Lieberman-Warner passing in 2008.'). Doctors and family members finally pulled the plug this week, and the patient appeared to ...
Topics: climate change mitigation, politics, US EPA, legislation, climate (all these topics)

Do as the Bill Says, Not as It Does Senators both GOP and Dem introduce destined-to-fail legislation		07 May 2008	News
Posted at 2:54 PM on 07 May 2008 Senate Democrats are trying once again to yank $17 billion in tax breaks away from oil companies that are enjoying booming profits. The Consumer-First Energy Act, introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, would also put a 25 percent tax on oil companies that don't invest in renewable energy. Bill cosponsor Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sums up, "Big Oil is making money h ...
Topics: Big Oil, energy, legislation, news, oil, oil and gas drilling, politics, US Senate (all these topics)

We Will Connecticut You Now Connecticut goes big with emissions-reducing goals		06 May 2008	News
Posted at 1:50 PM on 06 May 2008 The Connecticut senate has unanimously passed a bill aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, becoming the fifth state to pass such legislation (after California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Washington). The bill would require Connecticut to reduce emissions 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. If, as expected, Gov. Jodi Rell (R) signs it into ...
Topics: climate, climate change mitigation, Connecticut, greenhouse-gas emissions, legislation, news, politics, progress, state politics (all these topics)

Reid smarter than Clinton	David Roberts	06 May 2008	Gristmill
Vows to keep the gas tax holiday out of pending Democrat gas price legislation.
Topics: legislation, oil, politics (all these topics)

Jason and the Carbonauts Obama energy adviser Jason Grumet talks climate, coal, and transportation policy	David Roberts	06 May 2008	Gristmill
As executive director of the National Commission on Energy Policy, a bipartisan group of 20 energy experts created in 2002, Jason Grumet has come in for some flack from environmentalists. NCEP's influential 2004 energy report called for several measures anathema to greens, including a "safety valve" that would set an upper limit on the price of carbon and CO2 permit giveaways to coal utilities and other big polluters. But Grumet's experience finessing the ...
Topics: Barack Obama, energy, interview, legislation, politics (all these topics)

Oh, say can I see a CCA? How communities can choose renewable electricity, part 1	Jon Rynn	05 May 2008	Gristmill
Recently, I had an opportunity to talk with Paul Fenn, who has written or helped write several pioneering pieces of legislation which allow communities to aggregate their electricity purchasing power in order to choose renewable energy. This policy framework is called community choice aggregation, or CCA (of course, if I mangle any of the specifics, it will be from my own lack of understanding). When a CCA is created, the city or town or county can contract with an energy ...
Topics: energy, energy at home, legislation, politics, renewable energy, San Francisco (all these topics)

Word puzzles Washington Post reporter not allowed to say what he knows about climate legislation costs	David Roberts	05 May 2008	Gristmill
Steven Mufson's a good reporter, but I swear to God, something about the conventions of traditional journalism just drives people to do things that might as well be deliberately designed to obscure the truth. Take Mufson's recent piece on the costs of climate legislation. In particular, look at this bit: Listen to John Engler, former Michigan governor and president of the National Association of Manufacturers, and you'll hear that the price of the leading legislati ...
Topics: climate, climate change mitigation, economy, Environmental Defense Fund, legislation (all these topics)

Details matter: One final detail Lieberman-Warner criticism, Part 5	Sean Casten	05 May 2008	Gristmill
This is the fifth in a five-part series exploring the details of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. See also part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4. I close out this series with one small, specific thing that Lieberman-Warner gets wrong -- not necessarily because it's the biggest or most important thing it gets wrong; rather, because it illustrates the challenge faced by big and complicated legislation: it's really hard not to mess up the little stuff. Not out of m ...
Topics: climate, energy, greenhouse-gas emissions, legislation (all these topics)

More than money Other conservation tools at stake in the Farm Bill, too	Guest author	05 May 2008	Gristmill
The following is a guest essay by Britt Lundgren, an agricultural policy fellow at Environmental Defense Fund. ----- Although recent reports indicate that the new farm bill will provide a $4 billion increase for voluntary farmer conservation programs, there's more to the conservation policies in the bill than just money. Recent attempts by the conference committee to dramatically weaken the new Sodsaver provision are just one example of the one-step-forward, ...
Topics: ag policy, ag subsidies, agriculture, legislation (all these topics)

Page:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 26		Results 126 – 150 of 638

Stories About: legislation