Republican platform rejects McCain's stance on mandatory caps on GHG emissions

Republican platform rejects McCain's stance on mandatory caps on GHG emissions September 9, 2008 - The Republican Party adopted an election-year platform at its national convention, in the week ended September 5, that affirms Senator John McCain's calls for more oil and natural gas production both onshore and offshore, but repudiates his federal solution for curbing greenhouse gas emissions. "The foundation of our US energy strategy must be to eliminate dependence on foreign sources for energy ... " - Republican Party platform "The foundation of our US energy strategy must be to eliminate dependence on foreign sources for energy," says the platform, which Republican delegates approved September 1 at their St. Paul, Minnesota, convention. "Regulation and rulemaking must be cooperative, preserving the economy while promoting environmental preservation." The platform calls on Congress to oppose proposals for a windfall profit tax on oil companies, repeal oil and gas severance and production taxes, and stop "unnecessary" environmental regulation. While promoting oil and gas production broadly, it singles out the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and federal waters off the California and East coasts as areas where drilling should be promoted by the government. The ANWR proposal is consistent with one taken by the Republican candidate for vice president, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, but conflicts with the position of the party's standard bearer, McCain, who has long opposed development in the refuge. Similarly, the platform differs with McCain's call for a mandatory federal program to curb greenhouse gas emissions. While the platform acknowledges the "challenge of climate change," it warns against "Washington bickering" and rejects "empowering Washington," saying such an approach would "only lead to unintended consequences and unimagined economic and environmental pain." McCain has cosponsored legislation in the Senate to create a national carbon dioxide emissions trading market, commonly known as a cap-and-trade market. His plan would cut US carbon emissions by 60% compared with 1990 levels by 2050. (full)