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Ron Paul on Environment and Energy
Q: What about global warming? Are you - are you on the page that there is such a thing as global warming? PAUL: Yeah, I think it's been around for a long time, and it's probably going to be here for a while longer. I don't think the - the ozone has settled on that yet. I don't think everybody knows everything about global warming, because you have reputable scientists on both sides of that argument
"There is some strong evidence that global warming, which comes and goes, is not only explained by CO2."
Vote NO on an amendment that would allow the implementation of the portions of the Kyoto climate change treaty that are already allowed under law
Amendment sponsored by Olver, D-MA; Bill HR 4690 ; vote number 2000-323 on Jun 26, 2000
Q: "What are your views and policies on subsidizing ethanol farmers?" RON PAUL: ".... I don't think we should do that. Besides, bureaucrats and politicians don't know how to invest money. Then that money gets invested for political reasons rather than for economic reasons."
Voted YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries
Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act; Bill HR 5254 resolution H RES 842 ; vote number 2006-228 on Jun 7, 2006
More recently, Paul voted in favor of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act, which was hailed by environmentalists for its measures promoting clean energy.
"Coal if it can be cleaned up it should be used. Wind, if people want to use it and it's efficient people should use it."
Sponsor of the Affordable Gas Price Act, which would allow offshore drilling in U.S. waters, allow oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, exempt environmental impact statements conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act from judicial review, give more tax incentives for investing in oil refineries, and suspend the federal gasoline tax when retail gasoline prices hit $3 a gallon.
Voted NO on removing oil and gas exploration subsidies
Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation(CLEAN); Bill HR 6 ("First 100 hours") ; vote number 2007-040 on Jan 18, 2007
Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore
Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act; Bill H R 4761 ; vote number 2006-354 on Jun 29, 2006
Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR
Bill HR 4 ; vote number 2001-317 on Aug 1, 2001
Does not support 'cap and trade' systems
"If nuclear power is efficient and clean, and I think it is, it should be permitted."
Voted NO on raising corporate average fuel economy standards and incentives for alternative fuel vehicles
Bill HR 4 ; vote number 2001-311 on Aug 1, 2001
Opposed 33 mpg standard in 2005
Q:I'm wondering what his take is on environmental protection and how he thinks the constitution best answers the question of environmental protection. PAUL: The freer the market is and the more respect you have for private property, the better the environment is protected.
I've been reading the Constitution now and then. I can't find endangered species written in the Constitution and I don't think that's a federal function. But that doesn't mean that if we're not for the Endangered Species Act we shouldn't be interested in protecting species. We should be doing it in a private sort of way. Sometimes ... if there's an endangered species you say 'Well, I'm going to raise a few of those endangered species.' I think you go to jail for some of that. So it literally hinders what the goals are.
Co-Sponsor of the Reduce Individuals' Dependence on Energy Act of 2007, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide individuals a deduction for certain mass public transportation expenses.
Voted NO on increasing AMTRAK funding
Department of Transportation appropriations; Bill HR 5576 Amendment 1008 ; vote number 2006-263 on Jun 13, 2006
Vote NO to adopt a conference report that authorizes $216 billion for federal highway and mass transit programs, including $127 billion in highway discretionary spending and $41 billion in mass transit discretionary spending, for fiscal years 1998 through 2003.