Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
EPA’s renewable fuels push has unleashes bipartisan backlash
The Obama administration's move last week to increase the amount of ethanol and other renewable fuels that must be blended into gasoline supplies left virtually everyone unhappy, casting new doubt on the future of the government's long, contentious Renewable Fuel Standard. Published May 31, 2015
Obama, James Clapper plead Senate GOP to relent on Patriot Act standoff
President Obama and the government's chief intelligence official made a plea Friday for Senate Republican leaders to relent in their fight to preserve the NSA's phone-snooping program, saying that unless a deal is reached by Sunday, investigators will no longer be able to apply for new roving wiretaps come Monday. Published May 29, 2015
White House likens McConnell-Paul ‘feud’ to Hatfields and McCoys
The White House said Friday that the ongoing "feud" between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul is just the latest in a long line of Kentucky conflicts, dating back to the famous Hatfield-McCoy battles of the late 1800s. Published May 29, 2015
White House: ‘There is no plan B’ if Patriot Act powers expire
The White House said Friday there is "no plan B" if key Patriot Act powers expire at midnight Sunday. Published May 29, 2015
Biofuels mandate mess: New EPA ethanol standards under fire
The U.S. energy boom and low gas prices have wreaked havoc with the federal government's mandate to blend more ethanol and other biofuels into fuel supplies, leaving the Obama administration under fire and struggling to meet the mandates set by Congress nearly a decade ago. Published May 29, 2015
Cuba officially removed from U.S. terror list
The Obama administration on Friday officially removed Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, removing a key barrier toward full normal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the communist island. Published May 29, 2015
Obama defends plan, links hurricanes to climate change
President Obama on Thursday linked hurricanes and other extreme weather events to climate change -- the latest move by this White House to keep the issue at the forefront of domestic politics while also pursuing a landmark international agreement to save the planet. Published May 28, 2015
Supreme Court electricity ‘demand response’ case to decide FERC incentive mandate
In a key test of how much the federal government can regulate electricity markets, the Supreme Court this fall will hear arguments on whether the Obama administration overstepped its bounds in requiring power companies to pay customers who use less energy during peak demand hours. Published May 28, 2015
Obama: Teach climate change in schools
Saying that children "instinctively" understand the importance of the environment, President Obama said Thursday that climate change should be taught in schools and "weaved" into science and social studies classes. Published May 28, 2015
Obama meets with family of Steven Sotloff, U.S. journalist killed by Islamic State
President Obama met Thursday with the family of Steven Sotloff, an American journalist killed by the Islamic State last year. Published May 28, 2015
Obama blames GOP, rakes in money for Democratic Party at Miami fundraisers
While raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Democratic party, President Obama on Wednesday night blasted Congress for failing to act on everything from immigration reform to education. Published May 27, 2015
Joseph Biden: Ending Ukraine war a key test for U.S., Europe
Joseph R. Biden said Wednesday that ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict is a key test of U.S. and European leadership for this generation — but specialists say the vice president laid out no new American strategy for countering Russian aggression, and the Obama administration seems content on staying the course with economic sanctions and continued diplomatic outreach to Moscow. Published May 27, 2015
Obama must end crude oil export ban, Clinton defense secretary William Cohen says
President Obama is missing a key opportunity to grow the U.S. economy and aid key European allies by failing to lift a 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports, former Defense Secretary William Cohen said Wednesday. Published May 27, 2015
EPA expands powers over land use in bid to control water pollution
The administration announced rules Wednesday to grant federal agencies sweeping environmental oversight over wetlands, ponds and even some ditches in a move supporters said will clean up dirty waters but which critics said was a capstone power grab for a lame-duck president. Published May 27, 2015
White House sidesteps defense secretary’s comments on Iraqi forces
President Obama on Tuesday didn't distance himself from Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's claim that Iraqi forces showed "no will to fight" last week when Islamic State terrorist fighters captured the town of Ramadi -- but the White House also wouldn't explicitly endorse the Pentagon chief's comments. Published May 26, 2015
Obama promises federal aid to flood-ravaged Texas
President Obama on Tuesday vowed to expedite federal aid to Texas, which was hit with record rainfall over the weekend. Published May 26, 2015
Obama scolds Senate: Skip recess, get back to work on Patriot Act reform
President Obama on Tuesday called on Senate leaders to work through their current recess to ensure key parts of the Patriot Act don't expire at midnight on Sunday. Published May 26, 2015
Obama: Climate change a threat to homeland security, hurts military readiness
President Obama on Wednesday largely ignored major advances by the Islamic State, a nuclear North Korea and other threats to the U.S., and instead sounded an alarm on climate change, telling future military officers a warming planet is perhaps the most sweeping danger facing the nation today. Published May 20, 2015
Crude oil exports bill offered by Senate Republicans, Democrats
Despite continued resistance from the Obama administration, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Tuesday to end the decadeslong ban on U.S. crude oil exports, a move they argue will provide economic benefits at home and offer greater energy security to allies around the world. Published May 19, 2015
Obama threatens to veto House science research funding bill
The White House on Monday night threatened to veto a House science, technology and innovation funding bill, saying the legislation makes unacceptably steep cuts for the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies. Published May 18, 2015
