More science from the Presidential candidates

We just added more information on the Presidential candidates pages in the SHARP Network. Both Clinton and Obama seem to be focusing on energy prices, while John McCain has added more information on his healthcare plan.

Barack Obama

Increasing Energy Prices

On April 25, 2008, Obama released a plan to fight raising energy prices. Details of the plan include:

• Imposing a windfall profit penalty for oil companies selling oil at prices of over $80 per barrel.
• Providing tax cuts for workers and families, including a “Making Work Pay” tax credit of $500 per person or $1000 per working family for 150 million workers.
• Temporarily suspending purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SRV) until prices decrease.
• Reinstating federal supervision of the energy futures market.
• Providing tax credits and loans for domestic auto-makers to improve the fuel-efficiency of cars built domestically.
• Doubling fuel economy standards by 2030.
• Lifting the 60,000-per-manufacturer cap on buyer tax credits for energy efficient vehicles.
• Investing $150 billion over 10 years to advance clean energy technology.
• Establishing a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard that will require fuels suppliers to reduce the lifecycle carbon of their fuels by 10% by 2020.
• Requiring state governors and mayors to make “energy conservation” a part of their federal transportation funding plans.

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
On April 25, 2008, Obama released a statement on the proliferation of North Korean nuclear technology to Syria:

I am deeply disturbed by the evidence of North Korea’s assistance to an illicit nuclear program in Syria. This represents a dangerous and completely unacceptable development. Unfortunately, it comes after nearly eight years of a failed policy that has been long on tough talk and short on results, as North Korea has withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty, quadrupled its stockpile of plutonium, resumed testing of long range missiles, detonated a nuclear weapon, and exported nuclear technology to Syria. It’s time for aggressive diplomacy that verifiably ends North Korea’s nuclear programs and accounts for all its proliferation activities. Until we are able to confirm that North Korea is no longer in the nuclear proliferation business, the United States should not lift sanctions on Pyongyang. When I am President, we will turn the page on yet another failed Bush policy with direct and tough diplomacy as part of the multilateral talks to hold North Korea accountable.

Speeches on Science and Health Policy Issues

April 25, 2008 Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Press Avail on Energy Plan

Hillary Clinton

Increasing Energy Prices
On April 28, 2008, the Clinton campaign released a plan to combat rising energy costs. The plan includes:

• Enacting a windfall profits tax on oil companies and using the revenue to suspend the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax and the 24.4 cent per gallon diesel tax during the summer months.
• Closing the regulatory loophole that exempts electronic trading of energy commodities by large traders, which should decrease financial speculation on these markets.
• Calling on the Federal Trade Commission to propose regulations to prevent the manipulation of oil markets.
• Using the WTO to challenge OPEC’s production quotas.
• Suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and release some oil when necessary.
• Raising fuel economy standards to 55 mpg by 2030.
• Providing $1.5 billion per year in funding for public transportation.
• Investing $150 billion in the research, development, and commercialization of renewable and alternative energy.

John McCain

Healthcare
On April 29, 2008, McCain released the details of his vision for health care during a speech at the University of South Florida. The plan specifies:

• Allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines.
• Giving individuals and families the option of receiving a direct refundable tax credit of $2500 or $5000, respectively, for the purchase of insurance.
• Working with state governments to develop a “Guaranteed Access Plan,” a best practices model which would include a reasonable limit on premiums and assistance to low income Americans.
• Using availability of information technologies to allow doctors to practice across state lines.
• Passing tort reform legislation.

Speeches on Science and Health Issues

April 29, 2008 By John McCain On Health Care On Day Two Of The “Call To Action Tour”