Comment pubs.acs.org/est
Iowa Caucuses and the Environment
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innovative ideas like a new hydrogen engine. But Newt is really tough on the EPA saying, “I do think the EPA is totally out of touch and destructive” (http://journalexpress.net/cnhi/ x1243759484/Gingrich-I-am-going-to-remain-positive). He would eliminate EPA, fire its 18 000 employees, and replace them with people of “common sense” in a new agency, The Environmental Solutions Agency. Newt does not like Obama’s government much either saying, “Our goal is to eliminate about 40 percent of Obama’s government by the time he lands [defeated] in Chicago.” And he’s among the kinder candidates when it comes to Obama.
ou don't hear much about the environment in discussions of the U.S. Presidential race, perhaps reflecting a national ennui with all things environmental. The selection of the Republican Presidential nominee for 2012 commenced with the recent Iowa caucuses. Let's take a look at the candidates' positions. The Rasmussen poll taken on December 19 showed Mitt Romney leading Iowa with 25% of Republicans, Ron Paul 20%, Newt Gingrich 17%, and Rick Perry at 10% (http://www. rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/ election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/iowa/ 2012_iowa_republican_caucus). But anything can happen many Republicans are undecided and the race has been incredibly fluid so far with a new front-runner emerging monthly. All candidates claim to care about the environmentthey implore it to create jobs, stimulate the economy, and to yield domestic oil and gas for energy security. I’m not sure that everyone is smarter than these candidates when it comes to environmental issues. But I have my suspicions.
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RICK PERRY − “STATES RIGHTS ENVIRONMENTALIST” Texas Governor Rick Perry questions the science behind climate change and does not want to do anything about it. Mostly, he wants to create jobs by exploiting domestic energy resources and constructing the Keystone pipeline from Canada to Texas. Never mind the fear and opposition in Nebraska that a pipeline leak could poison their source of groundwater, the Ogallala Aquifer. Rick Perry is confident that energy resources can be developed without environmental harm. For example, on the subject of shale gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing, Perry said, “You cannot show me one place, not one where there is a proven pollution of groundwater by hydraulic fracking”. Rick Perry would eliminate three agencies, but he cannot always remember their names (that is how expendable they are). He hates the EPA and cites them as “job destroyers”, a name much worse than being called Communist, sissy, or elitist these days. Rick Perry feels that most environmental problems can be solved by letting the states do it, just like Texas has done. These are several of the leading candidates to date. I guess the message for us is that jobs are very important; we should innovate our way back, and states (not federal government) should regulate it. Environmental protection for the future must create jobs, wealth, and prosperity today. The most mainstream (and least destructive) candidate toward the environment in the Republican race is probably Mitt Romney.
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MITT ROMNEY − “INNOVATION ENVIRONMENTALIST” Mitt feels we should exploit the power of innovation to develop new energy sources and efficient technologies. He advocates using growth-oriented market approaches and creating a good business climate to achieve energy independence. Mitt is clearly the most pragmatic candidate in the race concerning the continuing role of existing regulatory agencies. For example, he is generally supportive of the Environmental Protection Agency, The Department of Energy, and The Department of Education. He worked well with such agencies at the state level as Governor of Massachusetts.
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RON PAUL − “LIBERTARIAN ENVIRONMENTALIST” Ron believes that most problems (including environmental ones) would go away with a drastically smaller government. He would cut the federal budget $1 trillion (27%) in his first year as President, including five cabinet agencies and much of EPA’s power. Paul would cut federal government so severely that it would cause state government to assume jurisdiction on most environmental issues. That is the proper place for regulations to be developed and enforced according to Paul. Characterizing himself as a “free market environmentalist”, Ron Paul believes that climate change is not a major problem and that protection of the environment could be better assured under tort law and by recognition of private property rights.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
[email protected] NEWT GINGRICH − “CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTALIST” Newt Gingrich is the only candidate to have written a book about the environment, A Contract with the Earth, in which he explains his support for the Endangered Species Act, why conservatives should be at the forefront of conservation, and the importance of nuclear power to decrease carbon emissions. He also advocates offering cash prizes for crowd-sourcing of © 2012 American Chemical Society
Jerald L. Schnoor, Editor-in-Chief
Published: January 17, 2012 1295
dx.doi.org/10.1021/es2046298 | Environ. Sci. Technol. 2012, 46, 1295−1295
