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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY)discusses rising gas prices, alternative energy and Paul Ryan's budget.
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-- is part of the future.
Wind is part of the future biofuels are part of the future and conservation is part of the future raising fuel efficiency standards as we have for the first time.
In three decades as part of that.
That was president Obama's chief political strategist David Axelrod.
Talking to Bret Baier.
Out in Chicago.
Where a brother bear was covering the Illinois Republican primary -- -- was there -- stopped and talked to mr.
Axelrod.
About the president's energy policy among other things.
This is power play and Internet we will talk about what that election we will talk about Jeb Bush's endorsement of Mitt Romney we will talk about the state of the race.
The money all of those things I will not deny you that I know what you like.
And I will give you that but.
This story of the day in a big way for the administration and for Democrats is trying to revive the initiative.
On energy with high energy prices and gas up the president is trying to get off the defense and start pushing back on his clean energy agenda.
We're gonna talk about that with Susan -- here she is.
The chief congressional correspondent for the Washington examiner my former colleague and friend and all around good person you should consider yourself lucky to have her.
And that having been said though we are also lucky to have congressman Paul topped out congressman -- represented a district in central -- -- New York up by Albany.
And is a big proponent of clean energy for America and getting behind that stuff so he he knows what he's talking about -- congressman how you doing today.
I'm doing well Chris it's great to join you and all of your fans out there.
Well the Internet she is -- a demanding mistress -- a good one.
So congressman being the question is the president today goes is going to.
Nevada.
The largest solar panel array in the United States it's big it produces almost fifty megawatts.
Electricity.
For prison Pacific gas and energy it also happens to be in an important part of -- important swing state for the president in 2012.
But he's trying to get back on the good foot on energy.
Can he really make this -- though.
Given the skepticism that a lot of Americans feel about this kind of clean energy spending -- insulin drugs and other problems with these kind of things and.
Well absolutely I think that's -- -- is an example of an industry that has as a transition industry.
Has had hard times because we have -- created a level playing field.
We continue to provide subsidies to the most profit rich industry.
In the history of capitalism that being the oil industry and these mindless handouts and subsidies could be used instead to.
-- provide the underpinnings that support for an industry like renewable industry like solar.
And you know the worst thing for us as Americans as consumers -- to transition -- to transition from eight.
Could be a very high dependency on fossil based fuels and where we import car -- commodities from the mideast.
To transitioning over to -- solar panels.
That are manufactured in China so we can build it here we can build -- in America we need a level playing field we can invest.
What are now subsidies to the oil industry transition them over to the involvement.
Strengthening.
The renewable industry court here in this country.
Now that it the argument is that it is worthwhile to do this.
Because.
Even though.
Energy derived from solar panels is more expensive.
That energy derived from let's say cold dramatically more expensive.
The -- that many people believe the coal and other fossil fuels are involved in global warming.
And that are responsible for making the planet hotter.
Is that the rationale that explains why it's better to pay more worrisome were the energy.
Through something like solar.
Well I think we need to have a diverse mix I think the president's agenda for all of the above -- an energy policy format.
Is a good one it's a sound one.
You know these supplies are not endless and the impact on the environment in many cases is one that somewhat negative -- very negative.
And if you look at the weather impacts it.
Across the country this year and in particular in my -- -- -- the country with the great northeast.
With New England in New York I did I believe there's been some strange weather patterns.
Because over the last several years with tornadoes and earthquakes and heavy duty tropical storms in the state -- I north -- New York.
Dad died at the same time having almost -- which are free season.
That really has -- every once opinion about.
Climate change and global warming.
But the earthquake.
Well we had it within a few short days and earthquake hit a a tropical storm -- hurricane and a tornado -- -- usual behave.
Your weather wise for now but -- New York area but the earthquake wasn't -- -- global warming was it.
Now but I just suggests that while you who -- we look -- who does what the temperature impacts our.
Geological -- -- -- okay -- I think you're going to hear about that from the Internet is my projection.
Congressman.
Now I want to move on Europe on the Budget Committee.
You -- you you are one of the most RTV -- -- that has been counting -- Orion.
Has put forward a Republican budget blueprint that is.
They would be a radical.
-- from what we've been doing to this point not only on entitlements like Medicare that he would turn into essentially a voucher program.
But also -- a big tax code shake up with the basically a two -- flat taxes -- the 10% 25%.
Your team has been hit him very hard on this.
Is there though.
Any commonality is there any hope that there's some common ground that can be found on some budget reform -- things like that.
Well look last year with our budget got control act to it was a bipartisan a very rare -- Scenario of bipartisanship.
But they also.
That budget control act already.
With a huge -- That go more towards the cuts rather than investments in job growth you know the Ryan plan is not new.
It was introduced last year it was rejected by America.
Many Americans were calling their congressional representatives saying.
Do not end Medicare reform it but do not ended this would put Medicare at risk it would halt Medicare as we know it.
And it would not allow for us to provide a sustainable program that America has said it's important to them.
It also continues the unfairness -- tax policy.
Where we encourage corporations to you offshore jobs where we -- provide the very rich.
Perhaps an average of a 150000.
Dollars in a tax break.
-- tax break then steals from children.
And their ability for education funding.
To insert into their growth -- -- -- leadership of the future.
And it impacts on health care situations a number of investments including infrastructure so you know we're going to revisit these issues we have extended.
Arms -- hands in in an effort to have a bipartisan sort of negotiations going on.
We attempted to do it last year with Medicare it was rejected.
But you know this is that they label it as -- it's not hold that doesn't cut away at the deficit it grows the deficit.
We need to have a sensible plan as that budget control act provided.
You go toward -- deficit situation at the same time you insert the investments that are essential for America to grow its economy.
Growing jobs it will reduce the deficit growing opportunity for the next generation is not only a good thing to do that fair thing to do but a moral thing to do.
Provide the in the investments in the next generation.
Congressmen called -- if you lived in the Mohawk valley of New York you know him already.
But now you know -- thanks very much for making cypress they actually have a great -- My pleasure refuted.
All right Susan and -- let's let's move a little chat inventory here as you might imagine -- -- responded to the global warming an earthquake business that that was there are so your skepticism.
About geological strata is duly noted Internet no question.
Z here's Ted Yost and I think Ted used has struck a Honda Accord it populist -- Which is stopped giving any of them money.
It's called free market capitalism that.
Will level the playing field so when the president -- president basically do is doing Tuesday -- let us take it by the way when we say subsidies to explain to answer the question.
When the president says subsidies to oil companies he's talking about tax breaks that all corporations get even ones that make Windmills and stuff.
But -- they call that -- he wants to take the money from that indirect tax subsidy.
And turn it into a direct -- subsidy for these people.
That's cracked and I only say level the playing -- I -- saying let's take away tax subsidies for everybody and let everyone just fend for themselves get rid of heart attacks -- -- Well you know that's that's that's fine argument to make.
You know I think there are people on both sides of the out come in and Democrat who think yes let's just get rid of some of these tax season there Republicans feel like we see Lindsay could do away with -- -- subsidies -- I'll just because he's their profits are so high.
The risk there though is whenever you take money away from a company they try to make it somewhere else -- so you know this whole argument of taking place of season and what constant -- saying about leveling the playing field.
You know I'm wondering if it was his idea of leveling the playing field is making sure that the prices for gas are as similar to what it costs for the prices for alternative energy you know what you really -- things out of course consumers -- might now do you expect huge backlash because the big problem of alternative energy is it's not really ready right now.
So it's not ready and have an affordable ways you'd be asking consumers to start paying a lot right now when the economy is a -- Let's to put -- putting it in perspective the solar array the president Obama's going to visit today.
I'm down in southern Nevada in accounting that he really needs to win he's -- he's campaigning out there today that is America's largest absolutely largest solar -- it is a huge 300 almost 400 acre spread out in the desert.
It produces almost fifty megawatts.
Of electricity.
One.
Regular size medium sized coal fired power plant.
Can produce 600.
Megawatts of electricity so the cost is the cost differences giant and the only way to cover the gap is either to make.
The fossil fuels more expensive so that they catch up with the solar.
Or subsidize the solar to such a point that you cut into the cost can he make this argument stick.
I think it's a really tricky argument the president make right now because Solyndra is a household name yeah that was not -- the truth -- you've given -- a -- -- name I think and now embedded right so -- -- -- -- the president making his case at a solar plant.
-- already the public has grown tired of this is I think -- risky politically and you know I know he is trying to really on -- -- -- really being loyal to his on his base of of supporters who want.
Green energy alternatives that's why he went out and -- with keys down.
To his political dash and I believe and why is continuing to push for solar even though it's been -- embarrassment and light on his is not much on his first term.
