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Subscribe to RSSAt a federally funded research laboratory he said would be impacted by sequestration, President Obama rolled out a new sustainable energy proposal -- but not before warning that the sequester would halt new scientific research.
“Essentially, because of the sequester we’re looking at two years where we don’t start new research,” he told an audience at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, a high-tech research facility that is one of the Department of Energy’s largest for scientific and engineering research.
The laboratory encourages collaboration among early-career engineers, including two Obama met with on a tour of one of Argonne’s facilities. And Obama warned that the careers of young scientists would be impacted by cutbacks in science funding.
“Imagine right now with all these young scientists and engineers that 20 years from now will be offering solutions to our problems that we can’t even comprehend, as long as we’re still funding these young scientists and engineers,” he said towards the end of his speech.
Argonne communications director Matt Howard said the laboratory is bracing itself for $30-$35 million in cuts to its research programs, and that while they are curtailing some construction projects in the short term, the sequester could have significant long-term effects on the research done there.
“As the rest of the world’s racing forward, we’re stopping new ideas and new projects,” he said. “That’s going to have a devastating effect.”
While Obama has made critical comments about the sequester in the recent past, today’s were less critical of Republicans -- he hardly mentioned them at all, in fact. He had a darkly humorous approach to it, though, joking at one point that the lab had fewer chairs for audience members to sit in because of the cuts.
Obama shifted from the sequester to his proposed $2 billion energy research trust by lamenting the spikes in gasoline costs, vulnerable to fluctuations in foreign supply, which also puts a burden on family budgets.
“The only way to really break this cycle of spiking gas prices, the only way to break that cycle for good, is to shift our cars entirely, our cars and trucks, off oil,” he said.
The proposed Energy Security Trust, funded by $2 billion over 10 years in royalties from drilling on federally owned lands, would be devoted to researching sustainable technologies like electric cars and domestically produced natural gas.
He said using land royalties for this purpose is a way to give back to the American taxpayer.
“Let’s take some of our oil and gas revenues from public lands and put it towards research that will benefit the public,” he said.
The center’s formation would require congressional approval.
Before he spoke to an audience in the laboratory’s Nanoscale Materials Center, the president took a tour of the lab’s advanced powertrain research facility, where he watched as a specially-outfitted car was subjected to extremely high temperatures in order to test its battery strength.
“It’s not every day I get to walk in to a thermal test chamber,” he said, laughing. “I told my girls that I was going to go into a thermal test chamber and they were pretty excited. I told them I was going to come out looking like the Hulk.”
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With eye on '16, Wisconsin governor rouses CPAC crowd
How is reducing the increase in spending a cut exactly?
First it was blame Bush now it is blame the sequester. President Obama doesn't know how to run this country, all he knows how to do is play the blame game. The sad thing is most people believe him.
It's a shell game with a side of political posturing for drama.
I think he spent more money flying around in AF1 talking about the sequester than we actually cut...
There is a gas boom...from fracking... less incentive in trying green energy.
Comedian Dennis Miller wants ALL of us to drive SUV, so we can finish crude oil faster - the best course of action to bring in alternative green energy once there is no more oil. Driving gas saving cars will prolong the existence of fossile fuels. Da Comedian got ideas.
A cut to spending is a reduction in the amount to be spent. Because the GOP has been unwilling to make rational choices, we are left with irrational choices, or the country would default on its obligation. That is how the GOP defined the issue by refusing to raise the debt ceiling.
Meanwhile, in Europe, where they apparently are able to spend money on scientific research instead of going to useless wars, they are busy investigating the origins of the universe.
The decline of the United States began with the election of Ronald Reagan and was secured by the appointment of George W. Bush. The current House of Representatives just furthers the destruction.
Boy dirp, nailed it. We can look back farther to an unnecessary war. But Reagan put decline on steroids. Saint Ronny, may he rest in hell for how he changed this country from one making great strides forward, to one going in reverse. Clinton had things fixed and going in the right direction, until Bush was appointed president and started two unnecessary wars. Now they tea bags are obstructing any progress and we are just going to fall farther behind. I am an eye witness. I seen this decline since the prosperous days of the 50's.
What a moronish amateur Obama is. He makes sure the sequester is in the deal because he believes he's some kind of political genius; when it predictably fails and comes back to kick him in the nuts he whines and moans. I'm waiting on him to throw an actual tantrum like a three year old.
It's much ado over nothing. It just gives him something to talk about other than what an idiot failure he's been as president.
The "official" deficit last year was 1.6 trillion. The real deficit was closer to 7 trillion.
44 billion dollars is a rounding error.
Are any of the drones here tired of hearing this man blow smoke up your asses? Has your intelligence been insulted enough? He's not qualified to be President.
Impeach the fool, I'm almost ready to take a chance with Joe "Boxers" Biden.
Some of you have no intelligence to be insulted apparently.
Raising revenue to cover research and education would be a good move. Cuts can be made other places.
Simple Theory ... or is that Delusion?
... and you have just enough to insult your own. Odd way to have your cake and eat it too. Please continue as there is a grain of scrambled mirth in me left.
You have him confused with Boehner and the do nothing Republicans. Hey, how's that CPAC thingy working for you? You nitwits don't even realize the rest of the country is laughing at your sorry a$$es.
Just about everyone is in favor of 'alternative energy' - WHEN IT MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE.
Fortunately, we are actually in the 'transition phase' to alternative energy for many limited applications (solar electricity and heating), and as technology and costs improve, it will gradually accelerate.
Unfortunately, most of the 'alternative energy' applications have limited economic potential AT THIS TIME because the costs are not currently competitive with fossil fuels.
We just need to be patient and allow normal economic forces to work - trying to FORCE change with tax/regulatory policies will just cause damage to consumers and job creation at a time when we can least afford it.
Johntho "Boy dirp, nailed it. We can look back farther to an unnecessary war. But Reagan put decline on steroids."
Let's see now;
The economy under Reagan (GDP) grew by 84% over his 8 years in office.
The economy under Clinton grew by only 57% over his 8 years in office.
I'll take that 'decline' in economic growth under Reagan any day over the measly 8% under Obama so far.
PS - Even under G W Bush, the economy grew by 47% - almost as much as under Clinton.
Roy, some more barnyard bovine excrement from you. I remember Saint Ronny's tent cities and soup kitchens. That and the rich are the only thing that grew, and I don't mean more rich. I mean those that had the most to start with. The only thing that grew was the very rich, and it DIDN'T TRICKLE DOWN. I know I have said this before Roy, but you have got to be one of the dumbest rocks in the pile if you believe those numbers that you continue to post. They are lies at best and misinformation at best. Why don't you stop posting if all you can do is lie.
Simple Theory, speaking of intelligence, who ties your shoes for you? I know you are not smart enough to know how too. Bush is the problem with our economy yet today. He started two unnecessary wars, then cut taxes for the very rich, and put us in a deep hole. On top of that he let congress give a drug benefit to seniors that only benefited the drug companies.
Impeach Obama, what are his high crimes or misdemeanors? Stupid.
Johntho "I know I have said this before Roy, but you have got to be one of the dumbest rocks in the pile if you believe those numbers that you continue to post"
Since the numbers I post are straight from the Official Obama White House records, I guess that makes Obama 'one of the dumbest rocks in the pile' too, right?
As part of Obama;s 2013 Budget, he shows the historical Debt, Deficit and GDP numbers for most years going back almost 100 years. Your 'simple minded' opinions are no match for Obama's official numbers.
Just google 'Obama 2013 Budget Historical figures' and verify for yourself, but I suspect you won't bother, since you subscribe to the Liberal motto;
"Don't confuse me with facts, my mind's already made up"
lol
Those tax cuts were across the board. Quit using the overused "cut taxes for the very rich". Everyone benefited from those cuts but now the "very rich" get theirs raised and the rest of us stay the same. Count your frigging blessings.
We need jobs, not cuts.
But of course America is not important, only protecting the republicans rich donor base is important. We can't feed or educate the people when we have rich oil companies that need millions in special tax cuts. The republicans have made it more than clear that the rich are the only people who matter to them.
But it appears when the republicans promised us jobs, jobs, jobs they thought we meant getting rid of them.
AF, there are plenty of part time jobs. Whats that? You don't want to work part time? You can blame that one on Obama also...
You do realize who's in power and who's running the government right? You do realize that government spending is a major problem and it needs to slow down right? You do realize if we keep up this spending we will go bankrupt and then you can have a fun time trying to find those jobs Americans.
Can't use facts with such moonbats..their small brains have been OCCUPIED with class warfare hatred and idiocy.
If Washington ever got serious (either side) about living within their means, I wouldn't mind a tax hike to curb the debt. But handing more money to these clowns (again, either side) is like turning a child loose in a candy store... they don't know when to quit.
Funny how when the other side is in charge, all of a sudden we spend too much!
Well AF,
Perhaps you can gather in $500K to have your quarterly with Mr. Obama! How many of the 1%'s are involved in this pay for play game?
@Bob - didn't you read the Obama statements? It isn't a spending problem, it's a revenue problem! lol.
It very clearly is a revenue problem.
The main problem being that every time in our history we went to war we raised taxes especially on the rich to pay for them. Except this time the republicans decided to put it all on the credit card. Then the minute a democrat was elected president then all the sudden the republicans debt became the democrats spending problem that the republicans are going to save us from.
And now that it is time to pay the bill, the republicans now think that only the poor and America should suffer to pay the bills the republicans couldn't competently handle.
Now we have veterans suffering from the wars that the republicans lied us to. The republicans loves war and killing but only think everyone but them and their rich donor class should suffer to pay the cost.
Look how they are whining about the white house tours. The republicans think the cuts should hurt everyone else but never affect them.
Good point Amaricans First bunchonumbers. The Government, under the suggestion of George Washington, raised taxes to pay for the Revolutionary war. The costs had been borne by states and citizens who gave in the form of crops to feed the troops. In the 1812 war a small tax hike paid for it. For the Civil War there were war bonds. The Mexican war required a small tax hike. World Wars one and two, Korea and Vietnam saw the sale of war bonds and higher taxes to pay for the war. When we get to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars do we sell bonds or raise taxes, no. Instead we don't sell bonds for that specific purpose and actually Cut taxes. Not a smart thing to do. That is why we have much of the mess we have today. When Vice President Dick Cheney opined that deficits don't matter he sent a message that we were putting those expensive wars on the credit care. He knew that he and Georgie wouldn't be in office when the bill came due so he didn't worry about it. Besides his friends in the military-industrial complex cleaned up at the taxpayer expense. No bid contracts and Cheney's company Halliberton getting a huge cut of the action. Who could ask for anything more?
Love you guys on the Right ... trickle down will start when the wealthy have it all ... History proves it. Actually, history marches out the guillotine.
The wealthy donors who run the republican party like grover norquist couldn't care less about your healthcare, or you kids going to college. Since norquist agrees with romney and told him what to say, he doesn't care about whether or not people have food. It's all about grover. If we lose our research labs as well as an educated electorate, it's good news for republicans, who do well with uneducated and illiterate people. If you think the rich need to be richer, and think wealth needs to be entirely redistributed to the top one percent, vote republican. Why are they ALWAYS wrong?
Best President ever!
Yes, Amy, we know you love him! Best ever, that is not exactly how I would phrase it!
;~D
And Amy is the best left-wing lapdog spewing moonbat talking points, EVAH.
The question is whether she is compensated for her services....
Amy,
Best President at: spending, deficit, wasting taxpayer money on green energy, bailouts, jet-setting, celib. president, or the best pay-for-play guy?
Now I will buy into the best liar since "I did not sleep with that woman" Clinton.
@ GOP,
Naw, Amy couldn't be compensated for her postings. Now for the IL. Dye-Job or the Oink'er or the pride of Duke U., perhaps.
And is the Pouser, David, actually a member of the FR team?
Now don't forget, next week is "Cook a Pig" week!
"Pouser"?
NDD,
Urban Dictionary - Pouser
Common misspelling of the word "poser," often used by stupid 18 year old boys to show how cool it is to be stupid.
Thanks, thetotas. I suspected something like that. How are you by the by..hope things are well?
Who would that be, Amy. The current one isn't the best but he is far from the worst too. The last one is way down near the bottom and following such a dud makes this one look better than he is. He didn't use the bully pulpit his first term but he seems to have caught on and I am glad. Perhaps at the end of his second term Obama will gain even more esteem from historians as his predecessor drops even lower.
New Conservative News Channel Coming to Cable July 4
The "One America News Network " as of now, displays a blank screen.
...and still topped MSNBC in the ratings.
Probably the most accurate reporting this channel will ever make.
Of course you are prepared to cite your resourceS for your claim there, comeback.
This is sad, really! When we need spending the most, its the Rethuglicons who take all the money out of the equation! Who can figure out the mind of someone like that? Someone like Lyan Paul Ryan? Go figure?
When there are so many of their fellow human beings hurting, what is the Rethuglicons answer? Greed! Take that money that could feed little Bobby, and give it to that huge corporation, they need it more!
Go figure the mind of a Rethuglicon???
Dfrom, give them half of your money...I'm talking about the half after taxes.
Our country is not broke, but the republicans are doing their best to make that so. You know starve the beast where we destroy our country for the rich to get richer privatizing our services.
The republicans inherited a balanced budget and if they had stayed the course we could have been completely out of debt by 2010 instead due to their mismanagement they gave tax cuts and more tax cuts to the richest and started unpaid for wars.
When the markets crashed the republicans already had the country behind the 8 ball. Now the holier than thou republicans want to pretend the whole problem is spending on Americans. Of course nothing to do with the revenue any competent leaders would have gotten to pay for their expensive wars.
I mean, really, do we need to give big corporations the special tax cuts reimbursing them for the cost of moving our jobs to foreign lands? Shouldn't that tax loop-hole deduction have gone away a long time ago, except that republicans are fighting for those rich corps moving our jobs away instead of for the people as usual.
You have got to know that the same people who lied the country to the Iraq war are still lying today about almost everything. From one conspiracy to another all harming the chances for our recovering economy. One day the republicans will smarten up and quit believing proven liars.
AF---You can lead a Republican to facts but you can't make them think. Bush and Co. created this debt but never mind that, it's all President Obama's fault. They refuse to accept one iota of blame or responsibility. In a nutshell, they are fanatics, all of them.
President Obama was crystal clear in November 2011 that he would veto any congressional efforts to avert automatic spending cuts under sequestration. Here’s what he said then:
Now he is trying to pretend that the "dumb" automatic spending cuts are the fault of Republican resistance.
Only morons with severe memory loss continue to believe Obama's lies.
Because they don't do their research, they just listen to what Obama says and if he says he didn't do it, well you could put a video in front of them (as many on here have verifying what he actually said) and they will call you a liar.