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04/03/2006
Illinois senator hits administration's
energy policy
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent
CHICAGO (AP) – Democrats should stress energy
independence, education improvement and science investment
in the 2008 presidential campaign, Sen. Barack Obama said
Monday. He laughed off a question on whether he wants a place
on the ticket.
Obama, a first-term Democrat, also said he doubts Congress
will pass immigration legislation this year, but he added
that if the Senate can clear a bill, "it lays the groundwork"
for 2007.
Obama was guest speaker at The Associated Press' annual luncheon,
held on the opening day of the Newspaper Association of America's
convention.
He accused President Bush of a "stubborn refusal"
to attack the causes of climate change, and said tougher fuel
standards, stricter curbs on oil imports and more investment
in cleaner energy are essential to avert global catastrophe.
"Saying that America is addicted to oil without following
a real plan for energy independence is like admitting alcoholism
and then skipping out on the 12-step program," said Obama
in a reference to one of the principal themes of Bush's State
of the Union address.
Republicans promptly returned the criticism.
"Rather than attack the administration, Sen. Obama would
be better served to read the energy bill President Bush signed
into law, particularly the portions that focus on energy-efficient
vehicles, renewable energy sources and less reliance on foreign
sources of fuel," said Tracey Schmitt of the Republican
National Committee.
In addition to criticizing Republicans, Obama chided members
of his own party.
He said Democrats "all too often are defending a social
safety net that was constructed in the 1930s and '40s. My
argument to Democrats has been that we need to cling to the
core values that make us Democrats, the belief in universal
health care, the belief in universal education, and then we
should be agnostic in terms of how to achieve those values."
Obama, who was virtually unknown outside Illinois before he
won a Senate primary in 2004, has quickly become a widely
sought-after speaker for Democratic fundraising events. He
is the only African-American in the Senate, and the party
leadership frequently gives him a prominent role at events
in Washington.
Asked about issues for 2008, he said the nation needs a "serious
comprehensive approach" to energy independence. He said
the technology exists to produce a car that can get 500 miles
to a gallon of gasoline.
Obama prodded Democrats on education. "I do not believe
that being against No Child Left Behind is an education policy,"
he said. "We should take a look at pay for performance,"
an idea not generally popular with teacher unions.
"I'm a big union guy and I have a sister who is a public
school teacher. I think it is absolutely for us to engage
teachers saying ... We are willing to pay you more, but we
have a right to expect a better outcome."
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U.S. Sen. Barack Obama,
D-Ill., addresses the annual luncheon of The Associated
Press in Chicago, Monday, April 3, 2006. Obama, addressing
the energy policy, accused the Bush administration Monday
of a "stubborn refusal" to attack the causes
of climate change, and said tougher fuel standards,
stricter curbs on oil imports and more investment in
cleaner energy are essential to avert global catastrophe.(AP
Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) |
In calling for greater federal spending on basic science and
research, he said Bush and congressional Republicans "are
so committed to more tax cuts on top of what have been delivered
that we are willing to cut into what is sort of the lifeblood
of our economy."
The answer about issues for 2008 prompted a follow-up question:
Would he confirm an interest in being on the ticket?
"Health care is important, too," he said to laughter.
Obama said the government should provide tax breaks and loan
guarantees to show the way toward greater use of environmentally
friendlier energy sources.
He cited several pieces of legislation he has introduced in
Congress, including one to help defray the auto industry's
costs of investment in more fuel-efficient cars. It calls
for the federal government to pick up a portion of the costs
automakers pay for retiree health care, so long as companies
use some of the savings to retool their factories.
Obama said the Big Three automakers spent $6.7 billion on
retiree health care costs in 2004.
"It's a win-win proposal for the industry – their
retirees will be taken care of, they'll save money on health
care, and they'll be free to invest in the kind of fuel-efficient
cars that are the key to their competitive future," he
said of the legislation.
"As gas prices keep rising, the Middle East grows every
more unstable and the ice caps continue to melt, we face a
now-or-never, once-in-a-generation opportunity to set this
country on a different course," he said.
He said the country should reduce oil imports by more than
7.5 million barrels a day by 2025, a cutback two-thirds greater
than the administration's target of 4.5 million.
He also said fuel economy standards should rise 3 percent
a year over the next 15 years, beginning in 2008.
The use of ethanol in fuel should be encouraged, he said,
supporting tax breaks for companies to install the necessary
tanks on their cars and for consumers who use E85, a blended
fuel.
"Unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these
fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country,
we are condemning future generations to potential catastrophe,"
he said.
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