Over the next two weeks, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in two important preemption cases: Williamson v. Mazda Motors and AT & T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion (CAC filed a brief in both cases). In these cases, the Court will decide whether strong state and local statutory and common-law protections are impliedly “preempted” (effectively nullified) by federal law that is less protective of consumers. Anyone wondering how this issue has an impact on global climate change policy need only review this fascinating draft report issued recently by the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), which chronicles how President Obama has changed the federal government’s policy on preemption and how this change is impacting on the ground decisions such as whether the federal government will challenge climate protections at the state and local level. The ACUS report details the efforts of a number of federal agencies to comply with a memorandum President Obama issued to agency and department heads in May 2009 reversing a controversial Bush Administration policy of aggressively using federal law to displace state law.
Over the next two weeks, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in two important preemption cases: Williamson v. Mazda Motors and AT & T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion (CAC filed a brief in both cases). In these cases, the Court will decide whether strong state and local statutory and common-law protections are impliedly “preempted” (effectively nullified) by federal law that is less protective of consumers. Anyone wondering how this issue has an impact on global climate change policy need only review this fascinating draft report issued recently by the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), which chronicles how President Obama has changed the federal government’s policy on preemption and how this change is impacting on the ground decisions such as whether the federal government will challenge climate protections at the state and local level.
The ACUS report details the efforts of a number of federal agencies to comply with a memorandum President Obama issued to agency and department heads in May 2009 reversing a controversial Bush Administration policy of aggressively using federal law to displace state law.
Bottom line?
The President’s memo, and the Administration’s arguments against preemption in cases like Metropolitan Taxicab represent a big step forward in encouraging state and local governments to continue their legislative efforts to combat global warming emissions. With Congress failing to date in passing meaningful climate change legislation, the Administration has succeeded at least in getting out of the way of important efforts going on in the states. As we’ve explained here, these state and local efforts serve both as a way of getting emission reductions right away, and as a prod for action at the federal level.
Today, Canada's House of Commons approved a motion calling for a permanent ban on oil tankers off British Columbia's coast. The passed NDP motion introduced by MP Nathan Cullen urges the government to immediately propose legislation to "ban bulk oil tanker traffic" through the Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound, off the north coast of B.C. The bill received Parliamentary support in a tight a vote of 143-138, with all opposition parties supporting it and Conservatives opposed. British Columbia is now one step closer to having a full legislated ban on supertankers off its north and central coasts. The opposition is sending a clear message to the Conservatives to legislate a formal moratorium.
Today, Canada's House of Commons approved a motion calling for a permanent ban on oil tankers off British Columbia's coast. The passed NDP motion introduced by MP Nathan Cullen urges the government to immediately propose legislation to "ban bulk oil tanker traffic" through the Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound, off the north coast of B.C. The bill received Parliamentary support in a tight a vote of 143-138, with all opposition parties supporting it and Conservatives opposed.
British Columbia is now one step closer to having a full legislated ban on supertankers off its north and central coasts. The opposition is sending a clear message to the Conservatives to legislate a formal moratorium.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and her colleagues on the Congressional Prayer Caucus penned a letter to President Obama Monday, attacking him for his alleged failure to the use the word "God" and "Creator" more in his public speeches, especially abroad.
The deal the President struck with Republican leaders is an abomination.
Recovery begins with realism and there is nothing to be gained by kidding ourselves. On the topics that I know most about, the administration is beyond being a disappointment. It's beyond inept, unprepared, weak, and ineffective. Four and again two years ago, the people demanded change. As a candidate, the President promised change. In foreign policy and the core economic policies, he delivered continuity instead. That was true on Afghanistan and it was and is true in economic policy, especially in respect to the banks. What we got was George W. Bush's policies without Bush's toughness, without his in-your-face refusal to compromise prematurely. Without what he himself calls his understanding that you do not negotiate with yourself.
What’s particularly striking is that Obama seems passionate about denouncing his progressive critics, even as he has nice words for the people who have spent two years trying to destroy him. So look: there’s a policy issue here, and it’s a tough one; you trade off the stimulus Obama extracted now for the increased likelihood that low taxes for the rich will be made permanent, crippling policy for decades to come. But there’s also a character issue: what we really don’t need right now is a president who blames everyone but himself, and seems more concerned with self-justification than with sustaining the alliances he needs.
What’s particularly striking is that Obama seems passionate about denouncing his progressive critics, even as he has nice words for the people who have spent two years trying to destroy him.
So look: there’s a policy issue here, and it’s a tough one; you trade off the stimulus Obama extracted now for the increased likelihood that low taxes for the rich will be made permanent, crippling policy for decades to come. But there’s also a character issue: what we really don’t need right now is a president who blames everyone but himself, and seems more concerned with self-justification than with sustaining the alliances he needs.
There’s a widespread impression that Keynesian fiscal policy has failed. I would argue that this impression is wrong — that the truth is that it was never tried.
We live in neoliberal times, and the continuing disaster to the economy doesn't seem to be reason enough for politicians of either party to change that. Read Naomi Klein.