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Loading...Obama Calls For EPA Budget Cuts
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget did not escape the proverbial chopping block of President Obama’s budget, released on February 14, 2011. The budget calls for a 13 percent decrease in the EPA’s funds, including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, EPA Homeland Securities Activities, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, EPA.
The budget also calls for the termination of several EPA programs:
- Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program—Helps states and localities reduce emissions from diesel engines by retrofitting or replacing older diesel engines. The reason given for terminating the program is that the benefits from the program are small compared to the amount of old diesel engines in existence, and from 2007 onward, new diesel engines are subject to strict emissions controls.
- Targeted Airshed Grants—Provides $10 million in funds to California to retrofit existing diesel engines and $10 million targeted airshed grants. The reason given for terminating the program is similar to the one given for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program. [what do SJ Valley and Southern Cal think of that]
- Targeted Water Infrastructure Grants—Provides $157 million for water infrastructure projects. The reason given for termination is that the program duplicates funding available through other programs.
“As millions of families are cutting back and spending less, they expect the same good fiscal sense out of their government,“ EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement. “That is why this budget reflects the tough choices needed for our nation’s short- and long-term fiscal health – and allows EPA to maintain its fundamental mission of protecting human health and the environment.”
The budget does give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an additional $46 million to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution, and implement GHG reporting requirements under the Clean Air Act. There would be $25 million for states and $5 million for the EPA to address GHGs in Clean Air Act permitting activities.
One hand out to the fossil fuel sector, Fossil Energy Research and Development, would be reduced by $219 million. Three other fossil fuel hand outs would be terminated: Coal Tax Preferences, Oil and Gas Company Tax Preferences, and the Oil and Gas Research Development Program.
Read more: budget, epa, global warming, obama
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40 comments
+ add your ownIf he just had not continued Bush's special tax cuts for the rich this would not be necessary.
Did I read that last paragraph correctly? The subsidies to the oil and gas companies will be rescinded? Tell me I heard right.
By the way; Americans should be in the streets howling for the twelve trillion dollars that was absconded from the American people just before 9/11. What's Mr. Barky's stand on that? If you really want to know how it works just look at the photograph after Barky's election. He's flanked by the two Bushes and Clinton. Doesn't that tell you who's in control? Shouldn't that picture tell you it's not about unity in serving the American people but about unity in their purpose of serving their common masters in Europe? Wall Street is the real government but even they answer to the European Master. Say it ain't so Joe, say it ain't so. I think that goes for Canada and Mexico too. Free Trade Zone anyone?
I can see cutting a program if it is duplicated. How many times have we heard that? The funding is discontinued and the so called source of duplicate funding disappears? Oh MY!
I'm not a big fan of coal even though I grew up with it. We have technology that will cut coal plant emissions to nothing. Unfortunately it is the way we mine coal that is so destructive; and it is that ways and means of mining that is so destructive overall. We need to mine but are you telling me that we don't have environmentally responsible mining procedures and practices available today. Then there is the slag and other waste materials that can slip into the aquifers and other environmental components. Of course the bottom line is PROFIT and human greed its servant. Ask the people in the Gulf if this is so.
By the way, diesel has never been big in the States anyway; at least not like it has been in Europe.
If Obama really wanted change he would institute Hedge Fund taxation reform. He would cease investment and financing for White Elephants such as Fannie and Freddy. He would cease funding failed corporations and rescind the payout of large buyout packages to failed CEOs. He would institute a tax and tariff on all goods manufactured outside of America especially China. He would also restructure labor and the Big Unions which never served the little guy but the Apparatchik at the top.
The responsibility of a politician is to get elected by telling you what you want to hear and then reneging. Oba
EPA EPA!
More proof that Obama is a just another corporate drone...like most of the Dems and all of the Republicans. The two party system is a corporate owned and operated oligarchy.
Wait, so because old people are used to coal we should just ignore how harmful both it's mining and consumption are? That makes even less sense.
And come on Obama, I voted for a principled Democrat who wasn't going to bend over to conservative republican posturing. What happened? Aside from the "hippie punching" and backpedaling on every campaign stance you took, I mean.
TY
Keep it real ! :D
Trish K. Why would we want to eliminate all the coal plants in America? Not only would that put thousands more people on the unemployment line, but there are many older folks out here who were raised with coal and still use it as a supplement to wood to heat their homes. Your comment has little merit and less logic.
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