Obama Hails 'Bold and Necessary' Step by the House on Climate Change, Calls on Senate to Take Next Step

I'm surprised by the number of people who don't understand that most of these jobs related to fighting global warming will be U.S. jobs. Retrofitting houses and office buildings would be mighty hard to outsource. Installing solar energy, building wind and tide 'farms' are all jobs with a future.
As for coal, there simply isn't the technology to clean it up and make it cheap enough to compete. Same with nuclear, as well as having that pesky problem of nowhere to safely store all that dangerous waste. Oil is definitely not a source that will make us energy independent since our lands have only 3% of the world's oil but we consume the most of all countries.
I'm glad the House passed the bill and I hope the Senate will step up to the challenge. We should have made these changes years ago. Thank goodness we have people in charge that can see the right thing to do for our country's future.

"Energy costs to skyrocket" Obama's own words. I am having a very difficult time paying my utilities now. A bill costing big bucks for all with dubious results - is this guy nuts??

I can't wait for 2010 to recast my vote for who we need in our government, we voted for change...well looks like we got it!...too bad it is not 2012 yet...

I am convinced this nimrod wants us all in the soup line. He has to be making an effort to take America down, which leads me to believe he is just plain evil.

He wants to break the coal industry. Perhaps they aren't union friendly? Surely we could put some funding towards cleaning up the industry rather than just bankrupting it?
He won't consider nuclear energy...why is that? Just look to France...nuclear works!
He won't drill.
He's thrown in some rubbish at 3 am in this bill regarding a new federal agency to inspect and rate all home for sale and require sellers to bring their homes up to green speed in order to sell...now that's a GREAT idea in this market.

He has to be intentionally trying to break us. He has to break our existing economy, our free markets...to build his empire of socialism.

Is this what we teach in Ivy's?

Here's another interesting tidbit: The city FROM which the highest percentage of people relocated TO Las Vegas is Los Angeles. The city TO which the highest percentage of people relocated FROM Las Vegas is...once again Los Angeles. Of course the easterly migration (LA to LV) far exceeds the westerly migration (LV to LA).

Nevada is an anomaly. From about 1983 to 2007, just in Clark County (includes Las Vegas and Henderson) over 1,500 homes PER MONTH were built; with nearly 6,000 new residents PER MONTH. An extremely large percentage of this migration was from California due to its anti-business practices; and Nevada's pro-business practices.

"With a quick search, I could only find data starting at 2005 it had slipped to 17th place (at a time incidently when many states were heating up)"

Its pace of growth remained largely the same.

But that and growth elsewhere was partially fueled by the real state bubble.

Nevada was at 9% growth in 2005.

Here are some facts from the U. S. Department of Labor!

On Jan 1976 there were 8,824,067 employed in California;

On Dec 1979 there were 10,762,853 employed in California--a net gain of 1,938,786 for the 4 years.

On Dec 1989 there were 14,060,844 employed in California--a net gain of 3,297,991 in the 1980s.

On Dec 1999 there were 15,782,468 employed in California--a net gain of 1,721,624 in the 1990s.

On May 2009* there were 16,386,653* employed in California--a net gain of 604,185* so far in the 2000s.

*Preliminary totals

"The economy of California is often cited for how it would compare to other countries if California were an independent nation. The statistic quoted varies widely (usually placing California between 7th and 10th) depending on the source, but also depending on the year. The most recent estimates (provided by the CIA's Factbook) put California tenth."

So the last year, wipes out California being an economic leader for 40? Posted by: Ryan C | Jun 29, 2009 4:31:09 PM

While your previous statement that "California's economy is actually ahead of many states" is technically true, it infers a false sense of everything is "not that bad" in California.

With a quick search, I could only find data starting at 2005 it had slipped to 17th place (at a time incidently when many states were heating up). In 2007-2008 it is close to the bottom.

I would be interested to see pre-2005 data.

"Also - according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis - California was in the 2nd to the lowest quintile for 2007-2008 at 0.4%. Most of the highest were in flyover country."

So the last year, wipes out California being an economic leader for 40?

I know our culture demands what have you done for me lately but I figured conservatives could look long term.

Guess I am dealing with reactionary right wingers.

For nearly 40 years California has been the major economic engine in this country. Being at or near the top of economic growth year after year. Posted by: Ryan C | Jun 29, 2009 4:03:01 PM

Quotes from the Oakland Tribune in 2007:

"A dozen states have overtaken California in terms of gross state product growth in the past few years. Difficulties in the small business sector are part of the reason.

"By 2005, California slipped to 17th place in gross state product, or GSP, growth, although its pace changed little, growing at 4.3 percent. Others, however, zoomed past at more than twice that rate.

"if more small firms are opened than closed, the state will grow faster. California is in the middle of the pack in terms of the expansion of the small business sector, according to the Business Information Tracking Series at the Census Bureau."

Also - according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis - California was in the 2nd to the lowest quintile for 2007-2008 at 0.4%. Most of the highest were in flyover country.

Oh yeah, it's the energy approach that is causing California's unemployment rates - talk about uninformed hogwash.

"I'm sure the 11.5% of the working population find your remarks very comforting."

For nearly 40 years California has been the major economic engine in this country.

Being at or near the top of economic growth year after year.

California's economy is actually ahead of many states even with their myriad of problems. Posted by: Ryan C | Jun 29, 2009 3:41:45 PM

I'm sure the 11.5% of the working population find your remarks very comforting.

"...THEIR ECONOMY KEEPING PACE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY..."

California's unemployment rate is 11.5%. And there is a $24 billion deficit."

California's economy is actually ahead of many states even with their myriad of problems.

You really have to hand it to President Obama! In his speech on energy today he stated:

"In the late 1970s, the state of California enacted tougher energy-efficiency policies. Over the next three decades, those policies helped create almost 1.5 million jobs. And today, Californians consume 40 percent less energy per person than the national average -- which, over time, has prevented the need to build at least 24 new power plants. Think about that. California -- producing jobs, their economy keeping pace with the rest of the country, and yet they have been able to maintain their energy usage at a much lower level than the rest of the country."

"...THEIR ECONOMY KEEPING PACE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY..."

California's unemployment rate is 11.5%. And there is a $24 billion deficit.

And just think about how many jobs weren't created because those "at least 24 new power plants" weren't built.

Is anyone in news going to ask why AND how legislation gets a vote when the paperwork hasn't even been read through and studied? How can a 300 page amendment get "slipped in" at the last minute into the 1200 page Cap and Trade Act??? Is it not COMMON SENSE that our elected officials need to take time to study the documents before putting forth a major vote on what will be the most INTRUSIVE legislation ever passed?

Also, is there ANY news organization out there that will inquire as to why the house reps that voted FOR HR 2454 went totally AGAINST what their constituents asked for?? I tell you what - November 2010 just absolutely cannot get here fast enough!!

People need to call congress and send letters AND make a showing that either they listen to us - or hit the door!

Where are the news organizations that will stand up for the American people???

"I believe our President and Congress wants us to lose more jobs and have our cost of living sky rocket."

Bingo - This will in turn increase dependence on (big) government - And we all know which party (hint: it begins with a "D") favors dependence by citizenry in order to secure/maintain power...

"Funny but I am not sure how this will help global warming."

It will not!!! Cap-and-Trade is a power grab, plain and simple...

"The funny part is many of our jobs will go to China and India" Posted by: Jaye | Jun 29, 2009 12:09:25 PM

Just one of many, Intel is doing that now. Plants built around the world - the latest being built right now in China. Huge assembly and test plant ready to open in Vietnam by the end of the year: 500,000 square feet of factory space (nine U.S. football fields). Meanwhile, they have closed some of their older plants in the U.S. (too costly to upgrade no doubt).

They will still police their own as they are very environmentally conscious. But no jobs for the U.S. unfortunately.