Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Nicaragua signs Paris climate deal; U.S., Syria now only countries out
On the same day the U.S. and Syria became the final two holdouts in the landmark Paris climate pact, State Department officials deflected questions about rejoining the accord and placed the full burden of renegotiating more favorable terms squarely on President Trump's shoulders. Published October 24, 2017
Donald Trump’s coal policies clash with market forces
Less than a year into his tenure, President Trump has dismantled much of his predecessor's environmental agenda and rolled back the regulatory war on coal -- but analysts still say coal's long-term future is bleak and that the administration's friendly policies toward natural gas could speed up the decline. Published October 23, 2017
EPA blocks scientists from giving talk on climate change: Report
The Environmental Protection Agency reportedly has blocked a long-planned address on climate change Monday by three agency scientists. Published October 23, 2017
Scott Pruitt has ‘epiphany,’ sides with ethanol industry in key policy fight
After heavy pressure from lawmakers and other stakeholders, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Thursday night sided with pro-ethanol lawmakers and said his agency will abandon many controversial changes to the nation's ethanol mandate -- prompting a top biofuels leader to claim that Mr. Pruitt apparently has had an "epiphany" over the past few days. Published October 20, 2017
Tammy Duckworth blocks key EPA nominees, cites ethanol stance and ties to Koch Industries
Citing one nominee's stance on the federal ethanol mandate and another's supposed ties to Koch Industries, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Democrat, on Wednesday placed holds on two key nominations for top-level jobs at the Environmental Protection Agency. Published October 18, 2017
Scott Pruitt meets with Chuck Grassley, other lawmakers to discuss ethanol
As the Trump administration mulls cuts to the federal mandate known as the Renewable Fuel Standard, Congress's most vocal biofuels champions are urging the government to change course and instead ramp up support for ethanol. Published October 17, 2017
EPA to end Obama-era ‘sue and settle’ practice
The Trump administration on Monday took steps to end the highly controversial "sue and settle" practice that led directly to a host of environmental regulations throughout former President Obama's tenure. Published October 16, 2017
EPA repeal of Clean Power Plan doesn’t mean pollution can be ignored, say experts
The Environmental Protection Agency's repeal of the Obama-era Clean Power Plan doesn't necessarily let the Trump administration off the hook, environmental groups and legal scholars say, and the government may have to show courts that it intends to address carbon pollution from power plants in some way, shape or form. Published October 15, 2017
National Monument Creation and Protection Act to limit president power
A key House panel Wednesday evening cleared a bill to rein in presidents' authority to create national monuments, striking a major blow at the heart of a power used extensively by former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama -- often over the objections of locals. Published October 11, 2017
EPA begins elimination of Obama’s Clean Power Plan, says move will save $33 billion
Following through on one of President Trump's campaign vows to coal country, the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday moved to formally kill the Clean Power Plan, beginning a lengthy process to dismantle the key Obama-era climate regulation. Published October 10, 2017
American Miners Pension Act sparks regional divide in Congress
The latest attempt to secure benefits for tens of thousands of retired coal miners pits Appalachia against the West, with battle lines drawn by region and not by party as Congress seeks to solve a looming crisis by pumping federal loans into failing pension plans. Published October 9, 2017
Gun control agreement stops with bump stocks
Lawmakers in both parties, the White House and the National Rifle Association have found common ground on outlawing so-called bump stocks, devices that increase rates of fire and can essentially create fully automatic weapons. Published October 8, 2017
Bob Corker, Tennessee senator, ‘didn’t have the guts’ to seek re-election, Donald Trump says
President Trump launched a Twitter attack against retiring Sen. Bob Corker, saying he "didn't have the guts" to seek re-election. The Tennessee Republican quickly fired back, calling the White House "an adult day care center." Published October 8, 2017
FEMA ‘filtered out’ San Juan mayor’s criticism of hurricane response, agency’s chief says
The Trump administration says it has "filtered out" all criticism of its relief efforts from San Juan Mayor Carmen Yuliz Cruz as Puerto Rico recovers from hurricane damage. Published October 8, 2017
Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood producer, should get back political donations: senator says
Any political donations from Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein should be returned in the wake of sexual harassment charges against him, Sen. Chris Murphy said. Published October 8, 2017
Hillary Clinton ‘gets an award for hypocrisy’ after gun control comments, NRA leader says
Hillary Clinton ought to be given "an award for hypocrisy" because of her own decades-long reliance on armed security guards, says the executive director of the NRA's legislative arm. Published October 8, 2017
Stephen Paddock, Las Vegas shooter, had ‘the most vanilla profile’: Casino magnate Steve Wynn
Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn said were no red flags in the profile of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock. Published October 8, 2017
‘We need a law’ banning bump stocks on firearms, Sen. Dianne Feinstein says
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who authored the 1990s ban on assault weapons, said over the weekend that Congress must pass a law banning the so-called bump stock devices used in last week's massacre at a Las Vegas country music festival. Published October 8, 2017
EPA poised to formally repeal Clean Power Plan in major blow to Obama’s climate legacy
The Trump administration this week is expected to formally repeal the Clean Power Plan, taking direct aim at former President Barack Obama's climate change legacy and delivering a major win for the coal industry. Published October 6, 2017
EPA, ethanol industry clash over potential changes to Renewable Fuel Standard program
The ethanol industry Tuesday launched a highly coordinated effort to drive a wedge between President Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt charging that the president risks selling out the rural Midwestern voters who helped propel him to the White House if he doesn't step in and stop proposed EPA rules that would punish the biofuels sector and reward oil refiners. Published October 3, 2017