John McCain on Energy & Oil Republican nominee for President; Senior Senator (AZ)

Sub-sections under Energy & Oil:
• Energy Independence
• Global Warming
• Voting Record
• Other issues under Energy & Oil

FactCheck: No, Obama voted for $300M oil tax INCREASE

McCain is referring to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which Obama did in fact vote for. Clinton raised this same charge against Obama during the Democratic primaries. It was misleading then and it’s equally misleading now.

In fact, more tax breaks were taken away from oil companies than were given. Overall, the act resulted in a small net tax increase on the oil industry of $300 million over 11 years.

The bill did contain $14.3 billion in tax breaks, but most of those went to electric utilities, and nuclear, and also to alternative fuels research and subsidies for energy-efficient cars, homes and buildings--not to the oil industry.

FactCheck: Obama not opposed to nuclear energy; just Yucca

Obama’s official position is that he does support safe storage of nuclear waste, saying on his campaign Fact Sheet: “Obama will lead federal efforts to look for a safe, long-term disposal solution based on objective, scientific analysis. In the meantime, Obama will develop requirements to ensure that the waste stored at current reactor sites is contained using the most advanced dry-cask storage technology available. Barack Obama believes that Yucc Mountain is not an option.“

But the McCain campaign has attacked Obama before on this issue, going as far as to claim Obama did not support nuclear energy at all, which was false. Obama has said he supports nuclear as long as it is ”clean and safe.“

GovWatch: Build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030

Obama’s 2007 plan promised that he “will also lead federal efforts to look for a safe, long-term disposal solution based on objective, scientific analysis.” It’s inaccurate to cast Obama as an opponent, and McCain goes too far when he portrays Obama as saying “no” to nuclear.

GovWatch: Gas tax cut goes to oil companies, not consumers

In early May, more than 300 economists, including several Nobel laureates, issued a statement opposing the proposal because, among other reasons, “waiving the gas tax would generate major profits for oil companies rather than significantly lowering prices for consumers.”

The view of hundreds of economists from across the political spectrum hasn’t stopped McCain from promising voters that “in the short term, I can give you some relief” by repealing the tax.

Ethanol subsidy OK at $40/bbl oil; opposed it at $60/bbl

But unlike in 2000, McCain decided he could not skip the Iowa caucuses in 2008. By a fortuitous coincidence, his position on ethanol underwent a transformation. "I support ethanol and I think it is a vital alternative energy source not only because of our dependency on foreign oil but its greenhouse gas reduction effects," he said in a speech in Iowa in August 2006 McCain's reason? He has said his anti-ethanol position softened when oil hit $40 per barrel. But in June 2005, when oil was at $60 per barrel, McCain's office put out a press release opposing ethanol mandates in the 2005 Energy Bill.

Public pressure on oil industry to invest in alternatives

A: I would hope that they would use those profits to further the cause of alternate energy, nuclear power, a lot of other ways that we have to employ in order to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.

Q: Do you support drilling/exploration off the coasts of Florida and California? A: I wouldn’t drill off the coast of Florida unless the people of Florida wanted to. And I wouldn’t drill off the coast of California unless the people of California wanted to, and I wouldn’t drill in the Grand Canyon unless the people in Arizona wanted to.

Q: But you wouldn’t require the oil industry to use its profits to help pursue alternative energy?

A: I would not require them to. But I think that public pressure and a lot of other things, including a national security requirement that we reduce and eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.

Supports ethanol but opposes subsidies for it

What changed? McCain claims it was the price of oil. "When oil is $10 a barrel, ethanol doesn't make much sense," he told Russert in Nov. 2006. "When it's $40 a barrel, it does make sense. I do not support subsidies for ethanol and I have not supported it and I will not."

The only problem is that it directly contradicts his own words: McCain's office sent out a press release condemning ethanol when oil was as high as $60 a barrel. When Russert confronted him with these contradictions, McCain, "No, I, I, I don't, I don't think I said that at $60 a barrel," and quickly changed the subject.

Claiming to "support ethanol" while opposing subsidies for it begs the question of what "support" from the federal government than could possibly mean?

Reinvest oil profits in nuclear power

A: Sure, I think we all do. And they ought to be reinvesting it. And one of the areas that they ought to be involved in is nuclear power. Nuclear power is safe, nuclear power is green--& does not emit greenhouse gases. Nuclear power is used on Navy ships which have sailed around the world for 60 years without an accident. And of course we ought to be investing in alternate energy sources.

Ethanol made no sense in ‘05 but with $60/bbl it makes sense

(Videotape of McCain, 6/19/2005):
My opposition to ethanol obviously would hurt me. But I’ve got to do what I think is right. And if it offends a certain political constituency, I regret it, but there’s really nothing I can do about it.

A: When oil is $15 a barrel, ethanol does not make sense. When oil is $60-plus a barrel, then ethanol does make sense.

Q: So you’ve changed your mind.

A: No, I haven’t. I have adjusted to the realities of the world we live in today.

Supports alternative fuels, emission controls, & CWA

McCain supports the following principles regarding America’s environment and natural resources:
• Strengthen the Clean Water Act.
• Encourage development of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
• Strengthen emission controls on all gasoline or diesel powered engines, including cars and trucks.

Energy independence will create millions of jobs

OBAMA: I support clean coal technology. Doesn’t make me popular with environmentalists. So I’ve got a history of reaching across the aisle.

McCAIN: He voted for the energy bill that was full of goodies for the oil companies that I opposed. So the fact is, let’s look at our records

Use alternative energy, including nuclear, coal, gas, solar

McCAIN: We can eliminate our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and Venezuelan oil. Canadian oil is fine. We can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil by building 45 new nuclear power plants. With wind, tide, solar, natural gas, with development of flex fuel, hybrid, clean coal technology, we can, within seven, eight, ten years, eliminate our dependence on the places in the world that harm our national security.

OBAMA: In ten years, we can reduce our dependence so that we no longer have to import oil from the Middle East or Venezuela. Number one, we need to expand domestic production and that means telling the oil companies the 68 million acres that they currently have leased that they’re not drilling, use them or lose them.

All of the above: nuclear, wind, tide, solar, gas, coal

Offshore drilling & nuke power instead of $700B to enemies

FactCheck: Voted against new investments in renewable energy

FACT CHECK: In his 26 years in Congress, McCain has voted against several bills and amendments calling for new investments in renewable energy, according to official Senate records. In March 2002, for example, McCain voted against an amendment to require utilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy facilities by 2020.

FactCheck: US sends $357B to hostile countries, not $700B

He’s referring to the amount of money the US spends in importing oil. But the number is inflated. In fact, we actually pay more like $536 billion for the oil we need. And one-third of those payments go to Canada, Mexico and the U.K. [That leaves $357 billion in oil payments to “hostile countries.”]

Note: A few of our readers messaged us, after we first noted McCain’s mistake, with the thought that he was referring to foreign aid and not to oil. If so he’s even farther off than we supposed: The entire budget for the State Department and International Programs works out to just $51.3 million.

Attack the energy problem on every front

Job creation program with alternate energy & nuclear power

A: Well, the first thing we would do is rein in spending. I mean, we’ve got to veto all of these pork barrel bills. We would eliminate pork barrel and earmark spending. We would seriously and comprehensively address the issue of climate change. We would also absolutely, absolutely make sure that I address the issue of Afghanistan and our nation’s security, and build a coalition of nations in an attempt that I think we can succeed on in reining in the Iranian development of nuclear weapons. But most importantly, a comprehensive immediate plan of action to fix our economy and create jobs and get people back to work again and get our economy going again, that has got to be the first priority. And I’ll work with the Democrats. I’ll reach across the aisle. And we have got to keep taxes low, and we have got to have a job creation program in which alternate energy and nuclear power are a big part of it.

Address both the supply and demand sides of imported oil

Lexington Project: invest to achieve energy security

AdWatch: Obama is the “Dr. No” of energy security

On Screen: Barack Obama Is Dr. No. No To Drilling Offshore Oil.

Obama: Offshore drilling would not lower gas prices today.

On Screen: No To A Gas Tax Holiday.

Obama: I think John McCain’s proposal for

GovWatch: No, Obama supported $150B in energy innovation

The ad also has Obama saying “no” to “clean, safe nuclear energy.” In fact, Obama has said, “I have not ruled out nuclear... but only [would support it] so far as it is clean and safe.”

The most glaringly inaccurate claim in the ad is that Obama opposes “innovation” in general and “the electric car” in particular. The claim is based solely on Obama’s dismissal of McCain’s proposal to award a $300 million prize for development of a battery package capable of powering plug-in hybrids or electric cars at a fraction of current costs. Obama called McCain’s approach a gimmick, but it’s not true that he opposes innovation or electric-powered cars. In fact, Obama was criticizing McCain for not going far enough.

End moratorium on offshore oil drilling

• He said that ending a moratorium on offshore oil drilling “would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis. But according to a government report, offshore oil wouldn’t have much of an impact on supply or prices until 2030.
• Update, June 24: At a town hall event on June 23, McCain didn’t claim that offshore drilling would lower prices in the short term, but that it would provide “psychological impact that I think is beneficial.”
• The Energy and Information Administration concluded in a 2007 report that “Something that takes 22 years to deliver significant results hardly qualifies as a ”short-term“ solution.”

GovWatch: Favors wind & solar in ad; favors nuclear in bills

McCain said in an Oct. 1, 2007, interview: “I’m not one who believes that we need to subsidize things. The wind industry is doing fine, the solar industry is doing fine. In the ‘70s, we gave too many subsidies and too much help, and we had substandard products sold to the American people, which then made them disenchanted with solar for a long time.”

GovWatch: 2003: Ethanol doesn’t increase energy independence

In 2003, McCain said that ethanol “does nothing to reduce fuel consumption, nothing to increase our energy independence, nothing to improve air quality.” Campaigning in Iowa in August 2006, he described ethanol as a “vital alternative energy source, not only because of our dependency on foreign oil but its greenhouse reduction effects.” Yesterday, in Massachusetts, he reverted to his anti-ethanol position.

End reliance on petro-dictators with market-based reform

John McCain is a proven conservative, and his strategy will not rely on subsidies, rifle-shot tax breaks, line-items for lobbyists, or big-government debacles. It will promote the diversification and conservation of our energy sources and substantially reduce the impact of our energy consumption on the planet. It will rely on the genius and technological prowess of American industry and science. Government must set achievable goals, but the markets should be free to produce the means.

FactCheck: Oil independence will take 25 years, not 5 years

We can’t predict the future, so perhaps McCain can make this happen. But experts have serious doubts. Says one expert, “You can’t institute technological change that quickly. It takes 15 years now to turn over the car fleet,“ citing a report commissioned by the secretary of energy that found the US could realistically reduce its reliance on oil imports by a third by 2030.

Another study, partly funded by the Pentagon and published in 2004, said it would take until 2040 for the nation to be free of all oil imports, by primarily using new technologies and competition.

About 66% of the oil used in the US in 2006 came from foreign imports, which amounted to 13.7 million barrels a day.

Nuclear power is the best way to fix climate change

McCAIN: When we have an issue that we may hand our children and our grandchildren a damaged planet, I have disagreed strongly with the Bush administration on this issue. I traveled all over the world looking at the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, Joe Lieberman and I. And I introduced the first legislation, and we forced votes on it. We lost, but we kept the debate going, and we kept posing to Americans the danger that climate change poses. Now, what’s the best way of fixing it? Nuclear power. Sen. Obama says that it has to be safe or disposable or something like that. Look, I was on Navy ships that had nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is safe, and it’s clean, and it creates hundreds of thousands of jobs. And I know that we can reprocess the spent nuclear fuel. The Japanese, the British, the French do it. And we can do it, too. Sen. Obama has opposed that.

OBAMA: I favor nuclear power as one component of our overall energy mix.

AdWatch: Realistic climate plan that clashes with GOP

Headline: McCain climate views clash with GOP

Announcer: John McCain stood up to the president and sounded the alarm on global warming, five years ago. Today, he has a realistic plan that will curb greenhouse gas emissions. A plan that will help grow our economy and protect our environment. Reform. Prosperity. Peace. John McCain.

John McCain: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.

Be more active in addressing the issue of climate change

In favor of cap-and-trade

Climate change is real and must be addressed

Climate change is real; nuclear power is solution

FactCheck: nuclear plants do emit no GHGs, but do have waste

McCain is correct to say that nuclear power does not emit greenhouse gases; in that respect, it is far more environmentally friendly than fossil fuel power plants. McCain neglects to mention, however, that nuclear power poses a different set of environmental worries. High-level nuclear waste--the sort produced as a byproduct of nuclear power generation--is potentially quite harmful. Some of the isotopes in spent nuclear fuel have half-lives as long as 24,000 years. At present, high-level nuclear waste is mostly stored in pools at nuclear power plants, a temporary solution. Fights have raged for years about the location of a permanent nuclear waste repository, but the NRC plans to open one in 2017 under Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

2000: Held hearings on mounting evidence of climate change

Global warming was a sensitive issue with Bush---a fact that surely was not lost on McCain when he decided to hold these hearings during the weeks leading up to the national convention. In the past, Bush had gone out of his way to say he was not sure that conclusive evidence existed to prove global warming was taking place. This was an echo of the Republican majority position.

2000: Criticized Bush’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty

“I wouldn’t have done that,” McCain said about Bush’s decision to remove the United States from the long list of nations worldwide that had agreed to sign it. “I don’t agree with everything in the Kyoto Protocol, but think it is a framework we could have continued to work with. We could have fixed it.“

The implication was all too apparent: Bush should have found a way to have the United States sign on to the treaty but didn’t. The back story was implied: Because the treaty was championed by environmentalists and opposed by Big Oil, Bush caved in to pressure from the energy industry and came out against the treaty.

Energy 2001: 1st Republican to sign onto reducing GHGS

Strength Clean Air & Water Acts; but not Kyoto

McCain supports the following principles regarding environmental issues:
• Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, in order to “improve efficiency and effectiveness”.
• Require states to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land, “consistent with Constitutional takings clause.”
• Does not support the United Nations (Kyoto Conference) treaty regarding global climate change.

GovWatch: Yes, his cap-and-trade bill is mandatory

The 2003 bill he sponsored jointly with Sen. Joe Lieberman laid out a cap-and-trade system, which would require utilities and other industries to limit emissions. Yet McCain has been soft-pedaling the “cap” part of the equation. In several recent appearances, he has denied that his plan contains any mandates.

Without a mandatory cap there would be little incentive for companies to participate in the buying and selling of credits. The whole idea depends on the government setting a firm ceiling for emissions.

We’ll leave it to you to judge whether McCain uses a different definition of the word “mandate” than most people. But we’ll let McCain have the last word. From his Web site: “Climate Policy Should Be Built On Scientifically-Sound, Mandatory Emission Reduction Targets & Timetables.”

Voted YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax.

Congressional Summary:
• On budget resolutions, it shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any bill or amendment that includes a National energy tax increase which would have widespread applicability on middle-income taxpayers.
• The term "middle-income" taxpayers means single individuals with $200,000 or less in adjusted gross income and married couples filing jointly with $250,000 or less.
• The term "widespread applicability" includes the definition with respect to individual income taxpayers.
• The term "National energy tax increase" means any legislation that the Congressional Budget Office would score as leading to an increase in the costs of producing, generating or consuming energy.

  Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R, SC): The climate change proposal that was in the President's budget would create a massive tax increase on anybody who uses energy, and that would be every American middle-class family, which already has a tough time getting by. This [amendment creates a procedure to block] any bill that would raise the cost of energy on our middle-class families who are struggling to get by. I ask the Senate to rally around this concept. We can deal with climate change without passing a $3,000-per-household energy tax on the families of America who are having a hard time paying their bills.

  Opponent's argument to vote No:No senators spoke against the amendment.

  Reference: Graham Amendment; Bill S.Amdt.910 to S.Con.Res.13 ; vote number 2009-S135 on Apr 2, 2009

  Voted YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade.

  Congressional Summary:AMENDMENT PURPOSE: To prohibit the use of reconciliation in the Senate for climate change legislation involving a cap and trade system.

  Sec. 202 is amended by inserting at the end the following: "The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget shall not revise the allocations in this resolution if the legislation is reported from any committee pursuant to sec. 310 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974."

  Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R, SC): This idea to most people of a debate about reconciliation probably is mind-numbing and not very interesting. But there is a process in the Congress where you can take legislation and basically put it on a fast track. It is subject to 50 votes.

  The whole idea of the Senate kind of cooling things down has served the country well. In that regard, to end debate you need 60 votes. If 41 Senators are opposed to a piece of legislation, strongly enough to come to the floor every day and talk about it, that legislation doesn't go anywhere. If you took climate change and health care, two very controversial, big-ticket items, and put them on the reconciliation track, you would basically be doing a lot of damage to the role of the Senate in a constitutional democracy.

  Senator Byrd, who is one of the smartest people to ever serve in the Senate about rules and parliamentary aspects of the Senate, said that to put climate change and health care reform in reconciliation is like "a freight train through Congress" and is "an outrage that must be resisted." Senator Conrad said: "I don't believe reconciliation was ever intended for this purpose."

  I think both of them are right. Under the law, you cannot put Social Security into reconciliation because we know how controversial and difficult that is. I come here in support of the Johanns amendment that rejects that idea.

  Opponent's argument to vote No:No senators spoke against the amendment.

  Reference: Johanns Amendment; Bill S.Amdt.735 to S.Con.Res.13 ; vote number 2009-S126 on Apr 1, 2009

  Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR.

  To remove the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the Alaskan Coastal Plain. The original bill allows for an oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Voteing YES on this amendment would remove that section, hence barring leasing in ANWR. Reference: Bar Oil and Gas Leasing amendment; Bill S Amdt 2358 to S 1932 ; vote number 2005-288 on Nov 3, 2005

  Voted NO on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas.

  To provide for appropriations for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that appropriates federal funds for the LIHEAP program. A 3/5th vote is required to amand a budget bi Reference: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program appropriation; Bill S.AMDT.2033 to HR 2863 ; vote number 2005-250 on Oct 5, 2005

  Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%).

  Amendment to improve the energy security of the United States and reduce United States dependence on foreign oil imports by 40% by 2025. The amendment seeks to reduce usage by 7.6 million barrels of oil a day, out of a total usage of 20 million barrels of oil a day. The bill without amendment seeks to reduce usage by 1 million barrels of oil a day. Opponents of the amendment said, "It would be disruptive of jobs if you set a 78 mile per gallon CAFÉ standard for cars, a 185-percent increase; a 60 mile per gallon standard for trucks, light trucks, a 174-percent increase. [The unamended version] is more in keeping with President Kennedy's "man on the Moon" goal. [The amended version] is a "man or woman on Mars" goal, and maybe we will get there one day, but it is unrealistic today." Reference: Energy Policy Act of 2005; Bill S.Amdt. 784 to H.R. 6 ; vote number 2005-140 on Jun 16, 2005

  Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

  Vote to adopt an amendment that would strike a provision in the concurrent resolution that recognizes revenue from oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The amendment says: "To ensure that legislation that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, other federal lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling receives full consideration and debate in the Senate under regular order, rather than being fast-tracked under reconciliation procedures; to ensure that receipts from such drilling destined for the federal treasury are fairly shared with local jurisdictions; and does not occur unless prohibitions against the export of Alaskan oil are enacted." Reference: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge anti-drilling Amendment; Bill S AMDT 168 to S.Con.Res. 18 ; vote number 2005-52 on Mar 16, 2005

  Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy.

  Vote to pass a bill would overhaul the nation's energy policies, reorganize the electricity system and make available approximately $15 billion in energy-related tax incentives. It also would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish a new CAFE standard within 15 months to two years. It would support the use of alternative energy and call for utilities to increase their dependence on renewable fuels. Reference: Energy Policy Act of 2003; Bill HR 6 ; vote number 2003-317 on Jul 31, 2003

  Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010.

  Dorgan Amdt. No. 865; To require that the hydrogen commercialization plan of the Department of Energy include a description of activities to support certain hydrogen technology deployment goals. Part of S 14 Energy Omnibus bill; this vote would pass an amendment that would call for the Department of Energy to set targets and timelines to maintain the production of 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010, and 2.5 million vehicles annually by 2020. It also would call for the department to set targets for the sale of hydrogen at fueling stations. The bill would require the Energy secretary to submit a yearly progress report to Congress. Reference: Bill S.14 ; vote number 2003-212 on Jun 10, 2003

  Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill.

  Boxer Amdt. No. 272.; To prevent consideration of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in a fast-track budget reconciliation bill. S Con Res 23 Budget resolution FY2004: Vote to pass an amendment that would strike (remove) language in the resolution that would permit oil drilling and exploration in part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. [Voting No favors drilling for oil in ANWR]. Reference: Bill SConRes 23 ; vote number 2003-59 on Mar 19, 2003

  Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds.

  Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Murkowski Amendment No. 31323; To create jobs for Americans, to reduce dependence on foreign sources of crude oil and energy, to strengthen the economic self determination of the Inupiat Eskimos and to promote national security. Would allow gas and oil development in a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge if the president certifies to Congress that production in the area is in the nation's security and economic interests (qwhich Prsident Bush would). If the cloture motion is agreed to, debate will be limited and a vote will occur. If the cloture motion is rejected debate could continue indefinitely and instead the bill is usually set aside. A yea vote for this bill was one in favor of drilling in the reserve. Three-fifths of the total Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture. Reference: Bill S.517 ; vote number 2002-71 on Apr 18, 2002

  Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months.

  Levin Amendment No. 2997; To provide alternative provisions to better encourage increased use of alternative fueled and hybrid vehicles. Vote to pass an amendment that would remove the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard (CAFE) and instead establish a new automobile efficiency standard in 15 months. Congress could veto any CAFE increase and would be allowed to increase the standard if no changes are made with 15 months. The bill would overhaul the nation's energy policies by restructuring the electricity system and providing for $16 billion in energy-related tax incentives. Reference: Bill S.517 ; vote number 2002-47 on Mar 13, 2002

  Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling.

  Vote to preserve language in the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Framework that assumes $1.2 billion in revenue from oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge [ANWR] in Alaska. Reference: Bill S Con Res 101 ; vote number 2000-58 on Apr 6, 2000

  Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy.

  In June of 1999, Senator Jeffords (R-VT) was prepared to offer an amendment which would have added $62 million to the Energy Department solar and renewable energy programs. This action was blocked by Senator Reid (D-NV).
  Status: Motion Agreed to Y)60; N)39; NV)1 Reference: Motion to table the recommital; Bill S. 1186 ; vote number 1999-171 on Jun 16, 1999

  Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository.

  Approval of the interim nuclear waste repository. The repository would be located at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, with an integrated management system for storage and permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Voting YES would authorize the President with sole and unreviewable discretion to determine the suitability of the Yucca Mountain site.
  Status: Bill Passed Y)65; N)34; NV)1 Reference: Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997; Bill S. 104 ; vote number 1997-42 on Apr 15, 1997

  Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline.

  Funding a mandated percentage of market share for the use of ethanol in gasoline, to be funded b reducing NASA budget b $39 million..
  Status: Table Motion Agreed to Y)50; N)50; VP decided YES Reference: Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995; Bill H.R. 4624 ; vote number 1994-255 on Aug 3, 1994

  Sponsored bill for greenhouse gas tradeable allowances.

  McCain sponsored establishing greenhouse gas tradeable allowances

  OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: A bill to provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the US by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the US and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances.

  SPONSOR'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Sen. McCAIN: This bill is designed to begin a meaningful and shared effort among the emission-producing sectors of our country to address the world's greatest environmental challenge--climate change.

  The National Academy of Sciences reported, "temperatures are, in fact, rising." The overwhelming body of scientific evidence shows that climate change is real, that it is happening as we speak.

  Terrible things are happening at the poles, which will have global implications. Amplified global warming, rising sea levels, and potential alterations in ocean circulation patterns are among the global concerns.

  The International Climate Change Task Force recommended that "all developed countries introduce mandatory cap-and-trade systems for carbon emissions and construct them to allow for future integration into a single global market." That is already being done in Europe as we speak, which is the substance of this legislation.

  If we do not move on this issue, our children and grandchildren are going to pay an incredibly heavy price because this crisis is upon us, only we do not see its visible aspects in all of its enormity. We have done relatively nothing besides gather additional data and make reports. That is what the US national policy is today: gather information and make reports. I would argue that is a pretty heavy burden to lay on future generations of Americans.

  LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; never came to a vote.

  Source: Climate Stewardship Act (S.342/H.R.759) 05-S0342 on Feb 10, 2005

  Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence.

  McCain scores 17% by CAF on energy issues

  OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 CAF scores as follows:

  • 0% - 30%: opposition of energy independence (approx. 206 members)
  • 30% - 70%: mixed record on energy independence (approx. 77 members)
  • 70%-100%: support for energy independence (approx. 183 members)
  About the CAF (from their website, www.ourfuture.org):

  The Campaign for America's Future (CAF) is a center for ideas and action that works to build an enduring majority for progressive change. The Campaign advances a progressive economic agenda and a vision of the future that works for the many, not simply the few. The Campaign is leading the fight for America's priorities--against privatization of Social Security, for investment in energy independence, good jobs and a sustainable economy, for an ethical and accountable Congress and for high quality public education.

  About the CAF report, "Energy Independence: Record vs. Rhetoric":

  Energy independence has surfaced as a defining issue in the current elections. Are most candidates and both parties truly committed? To help distinguish the demonstrated level of support for homegrown, clean energy alternatives, we examined the voting records of current U.S. Representatives and Senators on bills vital to promoting those interests. Key pieces of legislation included goals for independence, and subsidies for the development of alternatives compared to subsidies for drilling and digging. We then compared votes on these issues with campaign contributions from major oil interests. The results show strong inverse correlations between political contributions from big oil and votes for energy independence.

  Source: CAF "Energy Independence" Report 06n-CAF on Dec 31, 2006

  Gas tax holiday for the summer.

  McCain sponsored suspending the highway fuel tax for the summer

  Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuels between May 26, 2008, and September 1, 2008. Provides for reimbursement from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund for any reduction in Trust Fund receipts resulting from such suspension.

  Expresses the policy of Congress that:
  1. consumers immediately receive the benefit of the reduction in taxes resulting from this Act; and
  2. transportation motor fuels producers and other dealers take necessary actions to reduce fuel prices to reflect such reduction in taxes.
  Source: S.2890&S.2971 2008-S2890 on Apr 17, 2008

  Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases.

  McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership issue stance:

  The Republican Main Street Partnership supports the goal of immediate, near-term reductions in greenhouse gases, and would move toward this goal by providing strong incentives that have minimal adverse impact on the economy, and to continue to apply our best scientific minds to developing a better understanding of the long-term nature of climate change and the means to cope with it.

  Two objectives should be accomplished:
  1. create an "early action crediting system" to provide assurances to companies that actions taken now to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases will be recognized and credited in the eventual system of emissions reductions standards that will be developed; and
  2. commit the necessary resources to national and international scientific efforts to better understand the cause and effect of global climate change.
  With regard to global warming, the Republican Main Street Partnership recognizes that a longer debate over the proper U.S. role in implementing the Kyoto Protocol should and will occur. In so doing, we hope to bolster our scientific understanding of the problem and perhaps, in turn, provide immediate incentives for communities and corporations to act in their own and the nation's best interests in reducing emissions. We are strongly committed to acting on the emerging consensus for progress and constructive change, and maintaining America's ability to lead the world in the critical area of environmental protection. Source: Republican Main Street Partnership Issue Paper: Environment 98-RMSP2 on Sep 9, 1998

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