As the budget battle rages in Congress and a government shutdown looms closer, energy and environmental policy are becoming the central issue in the budget debate. The newly released GOP budget is aimed at cutting government spending and reducing energy prices through a combination of cuts to the EPA and an easing of regulations on domestic energy producers. The proposal also calls for cuts to government funding of energy related research. All of these cuts have met with great approval among conservatives but are, of course, angering liberals and environmental advocates.
The Republican proposed budget is the antithesis of the budget President Obama proposed earlier this year. Obama’s budget, which was praised by liberal groups, called for large increases in government funding of clean-energy research and greater regulation on oil and coal producers. These diametrically opposed views of energy policy are making it less likely that a compromise can be reached and a government shutdown prevented.
Ultimately, Obama and the Democrats are going to have a difficult time selling their proposal to the American people. Boehner and the Republicans have done an excellent job of taking the initiative and shaping the debate. This new budget proposal puts Democrats on the defensive while helping Republicans to appear proactive. Furthermore Republicans took the House of Representatives by running a platform of smaller government and spending cuts. With concern over the poor economy and American debt growing, the American people, for the most part, want to hear that spending will be slashed and taxes will be reduced. The Republican budget captures the sentiments that they ran on and that got them elected.
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Steve Michaels
Twitter: SteveMichaels5
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