President Obama’s year of action kicked into high gear this past week.
On Monday, his administration announced a proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulation that will cut carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants by 30 percent by 2030. The proposal is being called one of the strongest actions taken by the U.S. government to combat climate change.
“For the sake of our families’ health and our kids’ future, we have a moral obligation to act on climate,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “When we do, we’ll turn risks on climate into business opportunity. We’ll spur innovation and investment, and we’ll build a world-leading clean energy economy.”
According to the EPA, the plan will cost up to $8.8 billion annually and it’s regulations will prevent up to 6,600 premature deaths and bring benefits worth $55-$93 billion.
In addition to his big environmental move, POTUS has also been under fire over his recent decision to release five Taliban figures in exchange for American soldier Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was being held as a prisoner of war in Afghanistan. His decision to do so without notifying Congress in advance (as required by law) has recieved much criticism.
In his defense, Obama stated this morning that his administration had indeed consulted with Congress for some time about the possibility of having to make an exchange in order to recover Sergeant Bergdahl.
The President also made it clear that nothing else mattered more than the “sacred rule” of not leaving men or women in uniform behind. “Regardless of circumstances, whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American prisoner back,” he said. “Period. Full stop. We don’t condition that,” he said.
What are your thought’s about Obama’s recent bold moves? Do you think he should take action without always having to ask for bipartisan support?
[poll id=498201]