A look at today’s science and health policy news:
McCain stresses energy policy, slams Obama
McClatchy Washington Bureau– McCain gives a speech on how energy policy is tied to national security.
Western governors offer greenhouse emissions plan
AP– Seven Western states are joining four Canadian provinces to propose a plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions through use of a “cap and trade” system.
The American Energy Act: Supply Side Solutions
The Heritage Foundation– Congressman Boehner of Ohio is set to introduce The American Energy Act, which will most importantly increase America’s energy supplies. The bill calls for leasing regulations for offshore natural gas by 2010, removing restrictions for outer continental shelf drilling, and opening up sections of ANWR for drilling.
Sununu Pushes for Comprehensive National Energy Policy
Politicker NH– Senator John Sununu discusses the need for comprehensive energy reform and his plan that will effectively address our energy challenges.
Targeted members are on energy work-group
The Hill– A bipartisan group of lawmakers seeking to craft a compromise on energy legislation includes politically vulnerable members.
Senate GOP issues ultimatum to expand oil drilling
The Hill– Senate Republicans have threatened to block nearly all other bills pending before the August recess if Democrats refuse to vote with them on expanding offshore drilling.
Engel legislation would require timetable for flex fuel vehicles
Mid-Hudson News– Congressman Eliot Engel of Rockland and Westchester Tuesday introduced legislation that would require half of all cars made in America to be flexible fuel vehicles, able to run on gasoline or alcohol or a combination of both, by the year 2012 and rising to 80 percent by 2015.
Small businesses could gain insurance options
The Wichita Eagle– The U.S. House Small Business Committee on Wednesday introduced what it calls a landmark bill that would allow small businesses to form cooperatives to purchase health insurance.
House Passes Air Safety Bill To Limit FAA, Industry Ties
Washington Post– The House has passed legislation aimed at preventing the FAA from having too warm of a relationship with the airline industry.
Lawmakers greet Grate Lakes bill with fanfare
Fond du Lac Reporter– Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Capitol Hill lawmakers held a bipartisan pep rally for the Great Lakes Compact which would protect the Great Lakes watershed from major withdrawals of water that could be sent outside the region.
US-India nuclear deal moves forward
Nature News– A deal for nuclear cooperation between the United States and India is back on track after a crucial vote yesterday in India’s parliament.
F.D.A. Urges Genetic Test Before Giving AIDS Drug
N.Y. Times– Seeking to prevent life-threatening side effects, the FDA is urging doctors to use a genetic test to screen patients before prescribing a drug widely used for H.I.V. infection and AIDS.
Salmonella Outbreak Exposes Food-Safety Flaws
Wall Street Journal– The twisting road that led federal investigators to announce Monday that they found a single contaminated jalapeño pepper grown in Mexico and sitting at a distribution center in McAllen, Texas — the smoking gun in the continuing salmonella outbreak long blamed on tomatoes — has exposed problems in the U.S. food-safety system.
OMB’s high-risk list drops slightly
FCW– As the Bush administration winds down, the Office of Management and Budget is making plans to persuade the incoming administration to maintain the management watch list and high-risk list for information technology projects.
Gulf “Dead Zone” Threatens Ocean Life
CBS News– A “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas-Louisiana coast this year is likely to be the biggest ever and last longer than ever before, with marine life affected for hundreds of miles, a scientist warned.
The Carbon Curtain
Forbes– What we really need from the climate modelers is an accurate 50-year projection of global politics. Will people believe the computer’s dire prophecy enough to change their lifestyles?
Corporate America: We Want Climate Action, Just Not Sure How
Wall Street Journal– Big U.S. companies obviously want a seat at the table when it’s time to draw up America’s plan to fight climate change.
Think tank reveals plan to manage tropical forests
Nature News– A high-profile group of thinkers has come up with a straightforward way to integrate long-term forest management into an international agreement on halting deforestation.
China: Stoking the fire
Nature News– China burns more coal than any other country; how it does so in the future will determine our planet’s climate.
Renewables mandate ‘undermined’
BBC– The UK’s business department, BERR, has been accused of trying to sabotage Europe’s rules on renewable energy.
