Rob Horowitz: Obama Takes Major Step Forward on Climate
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Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Rob Horowitz, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™
As long previewed and advertised, the Obama Administration announced a major step forward on climate change yesterday, unveiling a new Environmental Protection regulation to cut carbon emissions from power plants by 30% from 2005 levels by 2030. The Administration is taking executive action under its authority to enforce the Clean Air Act While the coal industry, among others, have already signaled they plan to mount a legal challenge, recent US Supreme Court decisions upholding similar regulatory actions signal that the rule, once it is final in June 2015, is likely to stand.
This new rule packs a powerful punch because power plants, particularly coal-fired power plants, are by far the nation’s number one source of greenhouse gas responsible for about 40% of total US emissions. Taken together, with other executive actions including dramatically stepping-up fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles and putting executive purchasing power behind greater energy efficiency in new buildings and appliances, this strong new rule will enable the United States to achieve the 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 it pledged to accomplish as part of the 2009 international Copenhagen agreement on climate change.
The World Was Watching
Our nation is finally building the credibility on climate essential to playing a leadership role in negotiations beginning this fall aimed at forging a new strong new global climate treaty in 2015. Yesterday’s announcement was watched as closely in Beijing and New Delhi as it was in West Virginia and other parts of American coal country.
Previewing the new rule in his Saturday radio address, President Obama said, “I refuse to condemn our children to a planet that’s beyond fixing. The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But a low-carbon, clean energy economy can be an engine of growth for decades to come. America will build that engine. America will build the future. A future that’s cleaner, more prosperous, and full of good jobs – a future where we can look our kids in the eye and tell them we did our part to leave them a safer, more stable world.”
And there is solid public support for the new rule. By nearly 2-to-1 “Americans support setting strict limits on carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired plants, even if the cost of electricity to consumers and companies increases,” according to a recent poll by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication.
Still, there is a tough fight ahead. Powerful economic interests are going to fight this rule and any other constructive and needed action on the climate front tooth and nail. Most of the top Republican candidates for President and leaders in Congress can’t even bring themselves to publicly affirm the strong scientific consensus on climate change, much less support the kind of steps needed to address the problem.
It will be critical for the all too ‘silent majority’ that understands the reality of climate change to become activated and engaged on the issue. That will take a re-energized, more strategic, and better funded environmental movement—one that reconnects with the grassroots-and recaptures the momentum of its earlier 19070’s hey-day. It is courageous and forward looking actions like this major new rule that can fuel that momentum. That is one of the reasons for those of us who view tackling climate change as our largest and most important long-term challenge, President Obama’s courageous executive action is so encouraging and consequential.
Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.
Related Slideshow: 16 Questions for President Obama
With the announcement that President Barack Obama will be giving the commencement address at Worcester Technical High School's graduation in June, GoLocal asked elected officials and community leaders in Worcester if they had the opportunity to ask the President one question -- what would it be, and why?
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Tim Murray
"Mr. President, you're here to highlight a successful vocational tech high school -- what can you do as President to lead to more voc-tech opportunities for students across the country, and help bring the resources to help make that happen?"
Why: "As Lieutenant Governor, I focused on these issues. Oftentimes, vocational schools are overlooked. I visited all 64 of the schools, and was able to convince the Governor to reestablish an Associate Commissioner position for vocational tech and workforce development. It's an important issue to me."
Tim Murray, Greater Worcester Chamber of Commerce President
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Tom Finneran
"Mr. President, Democratic and Republican Senators and Congressman describe you as aloof and dis-engaged, more interested in "The View" than in their views. Are you aloof and disengaged?
Why: "The reason for the question is to challenge the President to become more engaged with the legislative branch. If he did so, he could forestall his inevitable slide toward lame-duck status."
Tom Finneran, Former Massachusetts Speaker of the House of Representatives
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Jim McGovern
“I would ask the President how we can work as a community and a nation to replicate the success of Worcester Technical High School across our region, our state, and the country."
Congressman Jim McGovern
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Tim McGourthy
“What is the role of the Federal government in building an educated citizenry?”
Why: "As states and school districts debate the adoption of national standards in K-12 education, the responsibilities, resources, and powers of the Federal government in the field of education have been challenged. While restricted from direct involvement in student curriculum since the 1960s, the Federal government includes a U.S. Department of Education and plays a critical role in coordinating and funding educational policy. In the President of the United States’ view, what are, and what should be, the limits of Federal jurisdiction in public education?"
Tim McGourthy, Greater Worcester Research Bureau Executive Director
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Chris Pinto
"Ask him why he is allowing the EPA to destroy the upper blackstone economy with ridiculous fines. He should reign them in, as they are behaving like jackbooted thugs."
Chris Pinto, Worcester Republican City Committee
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Tony Economou
"I don't have an ask, it's more of a statement, and it goes towards creating policy for our public schools. If the President is asking cities and states having to do whatever to conform to education standards, see how it will be funded first, then create policy. I would broach that respectfully."
Tony Economou, Worcester City Councilor
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Morris Bergman
"I would ask the President why there is no effort being made to look into the skyrocketing cost of private colleges and the lack of commensurate financial aid, particularly for the middle class."
Morris Bergman, Worcester City Councilor
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Gary Rosen
"What actions can the President take to restore the reputation and respect that the USA once commanded across the world?"
Gary Rosen, Worcester City Councilor
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Kate Toomey
"I would ask why he isn't doing more to create jobs."
Kate Toomey, Worcester City Councilor
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Michael Graham
“Dear Mr. President, which of your foreign policy successes makes you most proud?”
Why: "Do you really have to ask?"
Michael Graham, New England Talk Network
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John Giangregorio
"I would ask what he's doing about the economy, and jobs, especially for our inner city youth."
Why: "I don't think the unemployment numbers are a true reflection of what's going on. There's not a lot of opportunity. People are giving up."
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Paul Giorgio
"I would ask him the same question I asked President Clinton, which is -- can you change the height and weight charts so that I can be "thin"?
Why: "Everyone would be asking super serious questions, I'm sure."
Paul Giorgio, President of Pagio, Inc.
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Carol Claros
"I would want to ask him why is he supporting Common Core and National standards, doesn't he think the local school boards know whats best for our children and their schools?"
Why: "As a single mom whose daughter is enrolled in WPS, I am very concerned about common core and the deviation from local control into federal hands."
Carol Claros, Nurse, Former Republican Candidate for State Representative
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Jordan Berg Powers
"Why are your pushing the same failed education policies of the Bush Administration with a focus on privatization and meaningless bubble tests instead of focusing on the skills that will enable our kids to create their job of the future?"
Why: "Worcester Tech is both the best and worst parts of our education system. It shows that providing quality education is not rocket science, schools need to be well resourced, they need to be fun, relevant to what the kids themselves believe will be their future plans. And Worcester Tech is an elitist institution that fails the promise of universal quality public education that should be available to all."
Jordan Berg Powers, Worcester activist
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David Le Boeuf
"After you leave the White House, what is the primary issue that you will continue to advocate for?""
David Le Boeuf, Initiative for Engaged Citizenship, Democratic State Committee member
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Victoria Waterman
The Girls' Inc CEO, one of GoLocal's "14 to Watch in 2014," opted to let girls in the program ask their own quetions instead. Here is what Waterman reported for what they wanted to know:
Why is the United States in so much debt?
Do you ever wake up scared that something will happen to your family because you’re the President of the USA?
Why are you sending troops across the sea if it has nothing to do with us or is going to affect our country?
Why are people in debt and what will you do to help them?
What is your life like? Is it fun? Is it tiring?
Is being a president stressful?
Who inspired you to be what you are now?
What inspired you to be the president of the United States?
What middle school did you go to?
What do you like to do in the White House?
How do you sleep at night with everything you have to worry about?
Why did you run for President?
Do you like classical music?
Who do you want your pastry chef to be?
Can you convince my mom to give me an Ipod or a Pandora bracelet?
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