TED CRUZ – Senator Cruz has given several indications that he is a strong supporter of the petroleum industry. He has come out strongly against cap-and-trade legislation, declaring that this measure, which would add considerably to industry and consumer costs, would, “weaken the nation’s global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.” He has argued against government setasides which would prevent oil exploration and development over wide areas. In addition, and in line with an expressed goal of reducing general government interference in commerce, he has specifically come out against excessive government regulations, stating he would attempt to, “Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices and weaken the nation’s global competitiveness.” On the issue of the Keystone XL pipeline, Cruz has spoken strongly in favour of the pipeline’s completion and cosponsored Bill S2280, a “bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.” (The bill subsequently passed but was vetoed by the president.) He also co-sponsored Bill S2181 which called for a prohibition on the adoption of any new Environmental Protection Agency regulations until a final cost-impact analysis had been completed. DONALD TRUMP – Candidate Trump has openly questioned the science behind the “human-caused global warming” concept. During a Fox News interview in 2014 he declared the concept to be a “hoax.” He has also stated that many of the suggested “remedies” such as the widespread use of wind turbines to actually be “an environmental and aesthetic problem.” Like Cruz, Trump has also spoken out against cap-and-tax laws stating that they would force Americans to, “face ever-increasing (petroleum) prices.” He heaped scorn on President Obama’s opposition to Keystone XL, calling the president’s rejection “disgraceful.” In regard to the Keystone XL project, the San Antonio Business Journal noted that, “Trump is in favour of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would run from the tar sands oil region of Canada to the Houston and Port Arthur areas.” JOHN KASICH also has taken a stand against excessive environmental regu154 Saskatchewan Oil Report 2016
lation by voting “no” in 2000 on an amendment which would have allowed full implementation of the international Kyoto protocol of 1997. In addition, he has been a strong supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline and sharply criticized President Obama for his decision to terminate the project. However, he has taken some heat from the petroleum industry for favouring a sharp increase in taxation when recoveries take place through the fracking process. While several candidates dropped out of the race by early spring, some of their industry-related comments show generally strong support among Republicans for petroleum exploration and development. Senator Marco Rubio has been quoted regarding climate change that he would not do anything which would make, “American a harder place for people to live, to work or to raise their families.” He has been quoted by ABC News as declaring that he does not believe humans are responsible for current climate trends but rather believes that climate has always been changing and has never been static. As a result, he is opposed to the complex regulations being proposed which would control vast areas of human activity. Rubio also strongly opposes cap-andtrade schemes. During his 2010 senatorial campaign he stated, “As a U.S. senator, I would oppose a national energy tax on American consumers, farmers and business owners. At a time when our economy is struggling, a cap-and-trade scheme would further strain family budgets and destroy jobs.” Ben Carson declared his antipathy to government domination in general by stating, “I have concluded that the best policy is to get rid of all government subsidies, and get the government out of our lives and let people rise and fall based on how good they are. It goes back to the concept of regulations. Every regulation costs in terms of goods and services.” On the Democratic Party side only Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders remain as viable candidates for the Democratic nomination. Both appear to favour strong environmental regulation. HILLARY CLINTON – During a 2015 broadcast of a CNN debate, Clinton stated her opposition to the Keystone XL pipe-
line by noting, “I now oppose Keystone, but I withheld opinion at first.” Regarding energy markets, she stated that a Clinton administration would, “go after energy traders and speculators.” She would also use government to investigate high gas prices when they occur. In point of fact, Clinton has made few definitive statements regarding petroleum over the past few years, causing the National Journal to discuss her energy issue statements in this manner, “At the same time, there is genuine sense of uncertainty about the front-runner, who has yet to offer detailed energy policy positions.” There was some hope among oil industry leaders that Clinton would be more open to their cause than President Obama, but Clinton recently supported Obama’s Keystone XL decision. BERNIE SANDERS – Representative Sanders is the most avowedly leftist of all the important candidates and, in fact, has described himself as a democratic socialist. As such, it is not surprising that he describes his commitment to climate change legislation as very advanced. He has issued statements describing climate change as a “moral matter,” he advocates a tax on carbon, and he opposes the Keystone XL pipeline. Sanders recently made the sharply partisan statement that, “the fossil fuel industry is funding the Republican party” and he has made no secret of his advocacy of moving away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable energies.” In a June 2015, statement he defined those, “sustainable energies” as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and other forms of sustainable energy. Many observers agree that in general, the positions espoused by the Republican candidates appear to be in closer conformity to the goals of petroleum developers and producers than those of the two leading Democrats who indicate they are in agreement with the environmental movement’s goals and with the concept of using government’s regulatory powers to advance those objectives. The year 2016 is well underway and it should be fascinating for the world of petroleum to follow its progress. v