Green and the Popular Vote
Barack Obama has promised that the Environmental Protection Agency, under his command, will strictly regulate pollution that comes from large concentrated animal feeding operations. He will also offer better incentives for farmers to conduct sustainable agriculture. Obama is also a strong supporter of alternative fuels, such as ethanol, and is also promoting more fuel efficient standards on automobiles. During his time as a senator, Obama has introduced numerous pieces of legislation to reduce the amount of mercury and lead poisioning. Obama is also a strong supporter of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, and even co-sponsored the Great Lakes Environmental Restoration Act. In 2005, Obama voted yes on a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency. In an effort to reduce the amount of pollution caused by lead-based products, Obama has proposed a tax credit to help people to remove lead-based housepaint.
John McCain has put 3.5 billion acres of land under wilderness protection, increasing the preservation of public lands. McCain also repealed Bill Clinton’s executive order that banned roads in more than 50 million acres of pristine wilderness, believing that the idea that Washington knows best and that local residents cannot be trusted to do what’s right in their own backyard was the epitome of federal arrogance. Much like Barack Obama, Senator McCain also voted yes on a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Senator McCain also authored an amendment to the transportation authorization bill that would require funding for demonstration projects be covered by their respective state allocations, as opposed to being funded individually. McCain has also co-sponsored a resolution for the International Whaling Commission, which would end commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat.
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