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Today we are looking at a court ruling that restored the Biden administrations capability to use a key climate accounting instrument, a push for adding a ban on Russian Oil into a new Trade Bill and how high gasoline prices have dividing Democrats.
Rachel Frazin was the Hill’s editor, and Zack Budryk was the assistant editor. Write to us with tips:[email protected]@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter:@RachelFrazinand@BudrykZack.
Lets jump in.
Climate accounting metric ruling paused
An appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that had prevented the Biden administration using a key climate accounting measure in regulations and other decisions.
To quantify the effects of climate change on society, the Biden administration uses what is known as the social cost of planet-warming gasses.
The historyLast year, the administration temporarily reinstated interim figures based upon Obama-era figures. These gave more weight to climate effects than Trump-era estimates. It also convened a working group interagency to calculate updated estimates.
After several Republican-led States challenged it, Judge James Cain (Trump appointee) stopped the Biden administration using the values it had imposed in February. The red states had argued they would be hurt if the values resulted from less production of fossil fuels or less revenue for states.
What is new?Cains preliminary Injunction was halted by a panel 5th Circuit judges late Wednesday. They said that the states claims were largely hypothetical because they stem from potential regulations that could happen, rather than actual harm.
“Their claimed injury doesn’t stem from the Interim Estimates, it stems out of any forthcoming, speculationative, or unknown regulation that may place increased costs on them and may result,” the panel wrote.
The Biden administration appealed the Cains injunction that prevented it from using the interim value and stopped the interagency group working. It argued that Cain’s order had hampered a wide variety of government activity.
It claimed in court that the ruling had upheld nearly 40 regulations and nearly 90% of environmental reviews that relied upon the values to determine the harm or benefits that certain actions would have on climate change.
Learn more about the rulinghere
GOP pushes to include a Russian oil ban in the trade bill
On Thursday, a key GOP senator stated that Republicans would want to include language codifying a ban against Russian oil imports to a House-passed Bill to end normal trade relations between Moscow and Washington.
The House approved legislation Thursday to give President Biden
Joe Biden Irish PM tests positive to COVID-19 during a visit to DC CNN anchor talks to a father from Ukraine who lost his family. Graham introduces a resolution asking Biden to send jets to Ukraine.The power to impose tariffs against goods from Russia and Belarus requires the administration to push Russia out of the World Trade Organization and to renew the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The bill does not contain language codifying Biden’s Russian oil ban. This was passed by the House as a separate bill earlier in the month, but has not yet been voted on by Senate.
When Sen. Mike Crapo
Michael (Mike), Dean CrapoThis Week: Congress increases sanctions against Russia over invasion House moves forward with bill to ban Russian Oil On The Money Biden is under pressure to ban Russian Oil(R-Idaho), The Hill’s top Republican representative on the Finance Committee, stated that they are “working towards it”, but pointed to the inclusion in the trade legislation of the Russian oil banning as something he desired.
Crapo stated that “My understanding was that they aren’t going to include…the ban on Russian oil.” “So that’s something we need to include in it.”
Learn more at The Hills Jordain Carrney.
THINK YOUR GAS PRICES ARE HIGH? CHECK CALIFORNIA
California is the state with the highest gas prices in the country, with an average price of $5.44 per gallon in March. This is despite the fact that the national average was $4.173.
Experts believe the higher prices are due a unique combination, including higher gas taxes, emission regulations and the Golden States status in fuel islands.
Despite a rapid economic recovery, the U.S. has struggled with record inflation and rising prices for oil and gas in recent months. President Biden warned that high fuel costs will only get worse after the U.S. ban on oil imports from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Recently, oil prices have fallen. This suggests that consumers will be able to get some relief at their pumps in the weeks ahead. However, prices have been on an upward trend in Southern California.
According to AAA data on Wednesday and Thursday, the gas price for Los Angeles County increased by $5.876 to $5.890 a gallons, marking the 23rd consecutive day that county-level costs have increased.
California is following the same trend, with the average Californian household spending increasing from $5.694 a week earlier to $5.785 on Thursday.
According to experts in economics and energy policy, there are many factors that contribute to the state’s acute pain at the pump.
First, California taxes are generally higher than elsewhere, so the gas tax is higher, Sanjay Varshney from California State University, Sacramento, told The Hill. Number two, California’s emission and environmental laws are more stringent. This means that the mix required is higher. [for]Gasoline tends to cost more.
Kevin Slagle (Vice President of Strategic Communications at the Western States Petroleum Association), said that another key factor is that the state can’t receive any fuel through interstate pipes. The state’s fuel supplies can be produced in-state, shipped by truck or ship, which are more expensive and are passed on to the consumers.
Find out more about the situation.
Tensions within the Democratic Party are caused by high gas prices
Progressives are concerned by the fact that high gas prices are worsening inequality. This is creating tension between activists who want Democrats more to condemn big oil and those trying navigate Russia’s deadly invasion in Ukraine.
Some left-leaning parties are critical about their party’s ties with fossil fuel. They argue that Democrats should do more for the industry to reduce its influence and clout.
Jeri Shepherd from Colorado, a progressive member of the Democratic National Committee, stated that there is little to no political will to make sure accountability and get the oil industry to fly right. Regular people will feel the pain, while we as a political structure will remain indifferent.
Background:Liberals have often criticized oil and gas corporations. Angry is growing that these firms are entering a boom period while their customers are being hit with inflation. Gas prices have risen well beyond $4 per gallon in the United States.
Rising gas prices have exacerbated Biden’s political problems with inflation. This has reduced his campaign promise to give relief to the working- and middle-class in their daily lives.
Climate groups are also using more aggressive rhetoric. The Russian war is being accused by groups of exploitation of oil companies to boost profits and take advantage of average consumers, all at the cost of the climate.
John Paul Mejia is the national spokesperson for the grassroots-led Sunrise Movement. He said that the fossil fuel industry is showing us their strategy. He said that corporations are taking advantage of Americans at the gas station.
He said that he believes everyone is seeing the truth right now.
So what’s the deal now?The issue is dividing Democrats.
Left-wing organizers and endorsers are supporting candidates who reject fossil-fuel contributions on the campaign trail. This includes in a high-profile Democratic primary matchup in Texas. Insurgent Jessica Cisneros is heading for a runoff election to defeat Rep. Henry Cuellar. Cuellar has received contributions through political action committees that are closely tied to the industry.
Sen. Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinSenate panel advances Biden Fed nominations to confirmation votes The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – All eyes on Zelensky Today Senate votes to nix the mandate for public transport with a mask MORE(D-W.Va.), proudly accepting fossil fuel funding has drawn fury from progressives over the Senate’s denial of Biden’s Build Back Better package.
Some left-leaning people have also criticised Biden directly, stating that he must choose between transitioning to clean renewable energy and giving more leverage to fossil fuel executives.
Others have, however, avoided attacking the president, especially the one who is managing the crisis in Ukraine.
There are real villains. Zac Petkanas is a senior advisor to Invest in America Action. This group advocates for increased public spending. We have a madman invading the sovereign countries, which is driving up not only the cost for fuel but also likely food.
You can read more at The Hills Hanna Trudo.
WHAT WE ARE READING
The Washington Post: Death in a forest
The New York Times reports that Ukraine has requested tougher restrictions at Russian ports because of a Chevron tanker.
Dr. Oz
Mehmet OzThe Hill’s Morning Report, Presented by Facebook – What next after Zelensky’s speech? Oz declares that he will give up Turkish citizenship if he is elected to Senate The Hill’s Campaign Report: Dems hit by rising prices at the pump MOREHuffPost: First-Class Flip-Flop On Fracking
This Timber Company Sold Millions Of Dollars of Inexpensive Carbon Offsets (Bloomberg).
Finally, something a bit offbeat but not boring:Do you want to take a trip down the memory lane?
That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. For the most recent news and coverage, visit The Hillsenergy & environment page. We hope to see you Friday.