Energy Costs, the Environment and the Presidential Campaign

Making News

President Bush Visits Flooded Iowa Cities ()

President Bush flew to Iowa today, one of six states where floods have forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes. Mindful of the federal fiasco after Hurricane Katrina, the President says he’ll ask state and local officials what they need and make sure that they get it.  Cedar Falls City Councilman Kamyar Enshayan is also director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa.

Guests:

• Kamyar Enshayan: City Councilman, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Links:

• FEMA's focus on preparedness, recovery in the Midwest

Main Topic

Energy Costs, the Environment and the Presidential Campaign ()

Responding to rising gasoline prices, President Bush and candidate John McCain are calling on Congress to end the moratorium on drilling for oil off-shore. For both the President and the Senator, this is a change in policy; Barack Obama calls it a "flip-flop." Oil companies concede that nobody knows how much is available, how long it would take to produce or what the impact on prices might be. But Democrats in Florida and Virginia are among those joining Republicans who want the moratorium lifted. Has rage over fuel costs reached a tipping point or is McCain making a risky political bet? What about the environment, global warming and the effort to get America off the oil economy?

Guests:

• Michael Shear: National Political Reporter, Washington Post, @shearm
• Gary Langer: Director of Polling, ABC News, @LangerResearch
• David Mark: Senior editor, Politico.com, @DMarkPOLITICO
• Robert Bryce: Managine Editor, Energy Tribune, @pwrhungry
• Joseph Romm: former Energy Department official

Reporter's Notebook

Private Funding for Obama's Campaign ()

Barack Obama says he supports the public financing of political campaigns, but today he became the first major presidential candidate since 1976 to reject public money. John McCain's campaign says Obama has broken a promise. Because McCain will accept public money, he'll be limited to spending $84 million. Obama raised $95 million in February and March alone. Massie Ritsch is communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending and its effect on elections and public policy.

Guests:

• Massie Ritsch: Communications Director, Center for Responsive Politics

Links:

• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold Act)