OMB Director: Investing $148 Billion In Research And Development

Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew discusses budget investments in research and development, including industries and jobs of tomorrow, electric vehicles and clean energy. In part, this would be paid for by eliminated tax breaks to oil, gas and coal companies.  (:32) 

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Lieberman Pushes For Clean Coal Energy Options

Sen. Joe Lieberman says if the nation has more options for clean coal energy, prices will come decrease for consumers. (0:56)
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Clean Energy Off-The-Shelf

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

Dave Foster, Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance, says we are closer to replacing fossil fuels than coal manufacturers say.

01:05
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Gingrich sees energy as "policy crisis"

Fmr. Speaker of the House Newt Gingich says energy has become a "policy crisis." Gingrich also remarks on why he believes any future energy policy must include oil and coal. (1:57)
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McCain part of energy policy failure

Senator John McCain’s stance on energy was discussed in a conference call hosted by the Obama campaign. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland were available to discuss how McCain has been part of Washington’s failure on the energy policy.

Vilsack said that McCain has staunchly supported large oil companies for raking in profits but has not stood for families struggling with higher oil prices. In stark contrast, Vilsack pointed out Senator Barack Obama’s ‘visionary plan’ to increase energy efficiency standards and that he will allocate $150 million towards research and development of cleaner energy. Vilsack pointed out that developing cleaner energy will form an ‘energy secure America and rebuild the economy by creating more jobs and expanding the middle class.

Strickland emphasized that, over the span of four days, Ohio has suffered significant job losses directly related to the increasing oil prices. He said that, while McCain seems tied to the current administration’s policies, Obama offers a fresh approach with tax policies that will benefit most Americans. In addition, Strickland said that Obama is committed to working to achieve affordable health coverage for all Americans.

When asked as to why Obama does not visit places like Ohio more often, Vilsack gave assurance that Obama would certainly ‘come to the homelands’. Vilsack also said he was struck by McCain’s failure to support wind energy which is a vital source of alternate energy for Iowa and Ohio.

In response to the possible negative effect of Obama’s proposed tax on coal for coal-producing states such as Ohio, Strickland pointed out that Obama himself is a senator of the coal-producing state of Illinois. He said that America needs to pursue sequesteration to deal with the carbon issue and invest in research and development. Vilsack added that this will create a market driven system that will push America to create cleaner energy that will allow America to be less dependent on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (35:03)
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