(From Red Green and Blue)
Well, he talked the talk. But when it comes to the environment, will President Obama be able to walk the walk?
The President addressed Congress tonight to propose his "American Jobs Act" that would feature $300 billion in tax cuts, aid to states and infrastructure spending on roads and schools. It would be paid for with equal spending cuts and revenue increases down the road (Good trick! Make Congress in 2020 pass the hard stuff...)
Restructuring mortgages to put more money in the hands of consumers might be good for the economy, but it won't do as much for the environment as earlier programs like tax credits for home solar and wind power installations.
Words not used in tonight's speech:
- Environment
- Climate
- Green
- Energy
- Jobs (34 times)
- Tax & taxes (32 times)
- Pass this (17 times)
- Deficit (4 times)
The only time he came close to any of the green initiatives he's pushed in the past was here:
Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can’t afford to do both. (Full text here)How about regulation?
Republicans want to gut the EPA... and most everything else. President Obama:
Some of you sincerely believe that the only solution to our economic challenges is to simply cut most government spending and eliminate most government regulations. (Wild Republican applause)
...What we can’t do – what I won’t do – is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades.
...We shouldn’t be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards. America should be in a race to the top. And I believe that’s a race we can win. (Full text here)
So that's sort of drawing a line in the sand. But what happens when the GOP takes its next round of hostages? Obama has not exactly established much of a reputation for firmness.
For instance, in the last budget, the GOP inserted a line item that simply removed endangered species protection from wolves. The Republicans played hardball, and the Democrats rolled over.
Since it worked, the GOP has already started inserting dozens -of similar line-items that trash environmental protections in the next budget. Will the President really stand up to them?
What about the green economy?
Here's Jed Lewison:
Since the Great Depression, Americans have also counted on government to use basic macroeconomics—econ 101—to prevent long-term economic stagnation. And while President Obama did get the stimulus through, since then we have not had nearly enough government support.
Tonight's jobs proposal has many positive elements, but it's impossible to ignore the fact that it comes while we are simultaneously cutting spending, and that even if it does pass, it won't be nearly as ambitious as the plan proposed tonight.
Not as ambitious? Even if some pale shell of this plan eventually makes it through Congress, that $300 billion is Obama's STARTING POINT. You can bet we'll be negotiating DOWN from there.
Here's how the Huffington Posts' Amanda Terkle sees that "bipartisan cooperation" unfolding:
Primarily, [Republicans] will be opposing more stimulus spending, more regulations and a payroll tax extension. But the House Republican Conference, led by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), notes there may be room for cooperation on permitting for construction projects, infrastructure spending, free trade agreements and a jobs program for the unemployed being eyed by the White House.
And despite Obama's repeated mantra of "pass this bill", you can bet it won't be on any kind of fast-track agenda.
Send in the clowns
Here's the "To be or not to be" moment of tonight's speech:
The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we’ll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy; whether we can restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our beginning. (Full text here)
What are the odds? Not good... looks like the circus has come to town for an extended run, and even if Congress has sunk to new lows of popularity, they don't really seem to care.
The GOP's only jobs plan is to cut taxes on millionaires, but that's a plan that has abjectly failed continuously since the first round of Bush Tax cuts in 2001 - job growth has sucked right down the line since then.
Remember the "House Republican Plan for America's Job Creators?" Of course you don't - even though they put it out back in May. It read like every single Republican talking point memo of the past 20 years: lower taxes, free trade deals, get rid of regulations, and drill baby drill.
But any attempt to actually stimulate the economy? Here's Senate minority leader Mitch "Filibuster everything!" McConnell:
“According to the President, anyone who opposes [his] agenda is playing partisan games. Well, the President can attempt to blame our economic problems all he wants on his political adversaries or his predecessors or on natural disasters. But at the end of the day, he’s the one, as he’s said himself, who’s responsible for what happens on his watch.”
And that's the line they're going to take: "We will do nothing, and then blame the President for it."
And with enemies like that, who needs friends? West Virginia ConservaDem Joe Manchin has already said he has "serious questions about the level of spending". Thanks, Joe. It's great having you in our corner.
The adult in the room
Meanwhile, there are things the Executive Branch can do interdependently to make job creation happen, without relying on unjamming Congress. Here's Obama tonight:
My administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own. For example, if you’re a small business owner who has a contract with the federal government, we’re going to make sure you get paid a lot faster than you do now. We’re also planning to cut away the red tape that prevents too many rapidly-growing start-up companies from raising capital and going public. And to help responsible homeowners, we’re going to work with Federal housing agencies to help more people refinance their mortgages at interest rates that are now near 4% -- a step that can put more than $2,000 a year in a family’s pocket, and give a lift to an economy still burdened by the drop in housing prices. (Full text here)
As Chris Bowers points out:
In June, the White House Council on Jobs released a series of recommendations on how to increase employment without new legislation. Just last week, President Obama directed "several federal agencies to identify 'high-impact, job-creating infrastructure projects' that can be expedited now, without Congressional approval." Additionally, last year Robert Kuttner discussed how high-road contracting and tougher enforcement of labor laws could improve many existing jobs without Congress doing anything at all. Earlier this week, former White House advisor Jared Bernstein endorsed Kutnner's ideas.
Bowers is trying an exercise in crowd-sourcing to come up with more ideas - he calls it "Jobs Without Congress". Read about it, post your ideas here in the comments, and send them here as well...
You can read the full text of President Obama's speech here on Red Green and Blue.
More on the White House and the Environment:
