Disgraceful Maneuvers Push the Climate/ Renewable Energy Bill Back

File this under Politics as Usual…

The Democrats, in a desperate effort to protect Senator Harry Reid against the wrath of his Hispanic constituency in Nevada, have shuffled the immigration bill to be ahead of the climate/ renewable energy bill.  The bipartisan climate bill was meant to be unveiled this morning, but instead, America’s interests have been put on hold.

Thomas Friedman expressed his disappointment to CBS News:

Friedman said the political calculations meant moving ahead on an immigration bill which, he said, “you don’t need.” But maybe Harry Reid does.

“I think they’re worried that Harry Reid is going to lose in Nevada where you have a big Hispanic vote,” Friedman said. “Hispanics are very concerned about an immigration bill that will bring legality to illegal immigrants. Barbara Boxer is vulnerable in California. The president has done and talked a lot on green energy; a lot of people in the White House prefer to talk about that. Keep us distracted [with a] shiny object.”

But basically, Friedman said, “they’re interested in the raw politics.”

So the natural gas and green energy legislation that would’ve meant a great deal to the US in terms of jobs, homegrown industry and the reduction of dependence on sponsors of terror gets put on hold to protect a handful of politically vulnerable bureacrats.

Sad, but par for the course.

The priorities of our elected officials remain squarely rooted in games of self-preservation.  No wonder their approval ratings have never been lower.

Source:

Friedman: Delaying Climate Bill a Disaster (CBSNews)

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