Compassionate Conservatism: Obama Cutting Off Heating to Poor People

I like to hear Benjamin Kirby, Joy-Ann Reid or other progressive Obama supporters defend this insane proposal. President Barack Obama is proposing to cut the current Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program budget to $2.5 billion the previous budget of $5.1 billion. The program is used to provide heating to the homes of poor people during the winter. You will not be surprised to learn that Obama got the idea to allow people to freeze from Republicans.

Sen. John Kerry has voiced his disapproval.

"I've always supported serious efforts to restore fiscal sanity, but in the middle of a brutal, even historic, New England winter, home heating assistance is more critical than ever to the health and welfare of million of Americans, especially senior citizens," Kerry wrote.

Rep. Ed Markey joined the chorus against Obama's uncompassionate proposal.

"Cutting off funding for this program now would mean that millions of familes could have their heating cut off this winter," he said at a press conference yesterday.

Add Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to the list of Democrats opposing the proposal.

"The President's reported proposal to drastically slash LIHEAP funds by more than half would have a severe impact on many of New Hampshire's most vulnerable citizens and I strongly oppose it."

Marc Ambinder speculates that Northeastern Republicans Scott Brown, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe would join Democrats in opposition.

Obama often says that he was too busy legislating to do politics in 2009 and 2010. The truth is Obama has always placed his political goals above policy. Obama remained silent as Democrats were getting chewed up by tea party activists at townhall meetings. Obama allowed insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists to help craft health care legislation. Obama dished the public option for the mandate because insurers wanted more customers. Billy Tauzin convinced Obama to not allow Medicare to negotiate with the pharmaceutical industry. Both deals resulted in less cost savings.

The Obama administration waiting over a year to appoint many low level civil servants. The reason is the White House never got around to making the appointments.

Bernie Sanders has repeatedly told the media that he has been fighting with Obama on Social Security. Sanders has urged Obama not to cut Social Security benefits.

"What I'm hearing does not reassure me - that we have a president who is not prepared to defend the heart and soul of what the Democratic Party has been about since Franklin Delano Roosevelt," said Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist.

Obama will go to the Chamber of Commerce and offer to cut corporate taxes. This will only add to the federal deficit. Yet Obama will cut off heating to poor people under the false pretense of fiscal conservatism. Obama made both proposals to prove how centrist he is. This is a man unserious about governing.

Progressives, tell me how this is part of Obama's brilliant master plan.

Obama's Climate Change Speech at United Nations

Obama doesn't specifically outline policy in his United Nations speech. Obama states he will work with G20 nations to limit greenhouse emissions. Obama mentions the cap and trade bill that is moving at a snail's pace in the Senate. A better alternative to cap and trade is greater regulation on companies that cause excessive greenhouse emissions. The current cap and trade bill will not cut greenhouse gases enough.

Economist Martin Feldstein explains it would be cheaper for corporations to buy permits than to switch over the greener technology. Corporations that go over approved CO2 levels would pass on the cost to cumsumers. Current power generators create CO2 at record levels. Harsher laws, fines and regulation are needed to make corporations greener. The pro-business Obama is unlikely to back such a bill. The Waxman/Markey bill American Clean Energy and Security Act will hurt consumers and do little to curb CO2 emissions.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen's bill the Cap and Dividend Act of 2009 directly addresses the cost of cap and trade. The bill will require the Treasury Department to create the Healthy Climate Trust Fund. The fund will handle fines and expenses. The program will have a website and the Treasury Secretary must report to Congress on it's progress. There is oversight and a mechanism to handle cap and trade finances. Van Hollen's bill needs to be part of the discussion.

Transcript of Obama's speech.