Explore Candidates President Bob Barr on Environment and Energy

Bob Barr on Environment and Energy

The environment has emerged as a significant political issue in the late 20th and early 21st century. As the debate surrounding global warming continues, and the source of future energy becomes increasingly uncertain, the importance of the environment has risen on the agenda of all political parties. Issues include the importance and relevance of climate change, the appropriate policies to address human pollution, and the source of future energy.
Bob Barr strongly opposes the idea that human pollution is a significant cause of global warming

"Global warming is a myth."

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"One of the most complicated and controversial issues facing America is global warming. Although temperatures have increased in recent decades, the scientific community has been unable to make definitive judgments as to the past cause or future course of climate change."

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Bob Barr strongly opposes international treaties to cut greenhouse gas emissions like the Kyoto Protocol

"Global warming is a myth. Yet, it is being used by the environmental folks and by the internationalists. A lot of the pressure is coming from the UN and other countries, some of which--China of course--are pushing the Kyoto protocol. Why? Because they're exempt! It is going to saddle us..."

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Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. Vote on an amendment that would allow the implementation of the portions of the Kyoto climate change treaty that are already allowed under law. The Kyoto protocol of 1997, which aims to reduce emissions of certain greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, has not been ratified by the United States. The amendment would allow federal agencies, particularly the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to implement procedures already allowed under law that are also part of the Kyoto accord before the treaty is ratified by Congress.

Amendment sponsored by Olver, D-MA; Bill HR 4690 ; vote number 2000-323 on Jun 26, 2000

Bob Barr opposes investment in alternative forms of energy

"We know there are alternative sources of energy out there, lets free up the market and let the market begin the development in earnest... take the shackles off them."

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"The development of alternatives to fossil fuels would provide the country with many benefits, ranging from lower CO2 emissions to greater diversity of energy supplies. Given the failure of past government subsidy programs, this transformation can only be led by the private sector. The government must remove regulatory barriers, which limit the development of alternative as well as conventional energy sources."

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Bob Barr strongly supports investment in drilling for oil domestically

"We know that it is there. The oil is there. It is off-shore, it is in Alaska, it is in the shale in the West. We know there are alternative sources of energy out there, lets free up the market and let the market begin the development in earnest... take the shackles off them."

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Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR.

Bill HR 4 ; vote number 2001-317 on Aug 1, 2001

"The U.S. has large deposits of petroleum, oil shale, and natural gas. Barriers to their development in the Outer Continental Shelf, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and other federal lands should be lowered or eliminated, which would provide Americans with a more secure source of energy over the short term and help bring down today's high prices, which are causing such economic hardship to so many Americans."

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Bob Barr strongly opposes carbon taxes or credits to cut greenhouse gas emissions

"Moreover, we must develop cost-effective policies which will not undermine the U.S. economy. So-called cap and trade legislation, recently rejected by the U.S. Senate, would do grievous damage to the American economy, threatening to create a permanent recession by reversing industrial growth and destroying millions of jobs. Attempting to adjust global temperatures by artificially cutting energy consumption would undermine the very prosperous and innovative market system upon which we must rely for answers to everything from health care to international poverty to environmental protection."

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"What is McCain doing? He is out there buying into this global warming, and this carbon emissions cap and trade."

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Bob Barr strongly supports investment in nuclear energy

"Even the French are for heavens sake, the French recognize the efficacy of Nuclear power for energy production. They are decades ahead of us in terms of building nuclear power plants--the Japanese are also--it is embarrassing for the US to be taking a seat at the way of the back of the bus while France is driving it for nuclear power."

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Bob Barr opposes requiring American automakers to meet certain fuel efficiency standards

Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. Require a combined corporate average fuel efficiency [CAFE] standard for passenger automobiles and light trucks, including sport utility vehicles, of 26 mpg in 2005 and of 27.5 mpg in 2007. It also would offer incentives for alternative fuel vehicles.

Bill HR 4 ; vote number 2001-311 on Aug 1, 2001

Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. Amendment to maintain the current prohibition on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by striking language opening the reserve up to development.

Bill HR 4 ; vote number 2001-317 on Aug 1, 2001

"We know that it is there. The oil is there. It is off-shore, it is in Alaska, it is in the shale in the West. We know there are alternative sources of energy out there, lets free up the market and let the market begin the development in earnest... take the shackles off them."

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Bob Barr is neutral on initiatives to conserve and recover endangered species

"I saw it time and again when serving in Congress. We would have an opportunity, a piece of legislation that came up, that would simply make a minor adjustment to the Endangered Species Act to allow for private companies or the government to go in and take care of problems of flood levees, they wouldn't do it...Until we get people in Washington that will stand up to these groups and keep the best interests of America in mind, we're not going to see a change."

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"Endangered species - from small, inedible minnows to spotted grasses and field mice - receive similarly high protection via the Endangered Species Act. When it comes to protecting our physical environment and ensuring that wildlife most citizens will never see - or care to see - receive the highest-priority care the law can provide, no delay seems too lengthy and no cost too dear. We have accumulated countless environmental impact and endangered species reports over the past three decades, in order to justify allowing a single company or local government to diminish a square yard of our environment or harm a single snail darter."

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Voted YES on the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999, a bill that sought to provide Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance to state and local governments, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act) to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of the American people, and for other purposes. This was essentially a vote to pass a bill that would use approximately $45 billion in revenues from offshore drilling on the federally owned Outer Continental Shelf to fund land acquisition, conservation, and habitat protection programs over a period of fifteen years.

Bill Number: HR 701, 5/11/2000

Voted YES on the Endangered Species Act Exemption Amendment. This was essentially a vote to adopt a substitute amendment that allows the Endangered Species Act consultation requirement to be waived in declared federal disaster areas and if the flood control measure is necessary to protect human lives or property.

Bill Number: HR 478, 5/7/1997

Bob Barr opposes greater investment in public transportation

Voted NO on the Transportation Reauthorization bill (HR 2400) which sought to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs and for other purposes. This was essentially a vote to pass a bill that authorizes $217 billion for federal highway and mass transit programs for fiscal years 1998 through 2003.

Bill Number: HR 2400, 4/1/1998