Democratic presidential contenders ahead of Democratic Congress on energy policy

In honor of tonight's GOP presidential debate here in St. Petersburg, we thought it was time to bring you up to date on the energy-policy side of the presidential race. Today's New York Times has a nice little piece on the contrast between the Democratic and Republican contenders for president on energy policy that in passing points out another, more intriguing difference.

"...most of the Democratic rivals are proposing plans that are more aggressive than the bills that Democratic leaders in Congress are hoping to pass before year-end," the story notes. "The disparity raises questions about whether the candidates’ plans are politically realistic."

The D-side candidates want to "repeal billions of dollars in tax breaks for oil companies, spend billions more each year to develop alternative fuels, and require cars and trucks to be far more fuel-efficient," today's NYT reports.

"For Democrats, the goal of energy policy is largely about reducing oil consumption and has become inseparable from the goal of reducing the risk of climate change," the story reports. "For the Republican candidates, energy policy is primarily about producing more energy at home — more oil and gas drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; more use of American coal to produce liquid fuel; and, as with Democrats, more renewable fuels like ethanol."

Among the GOP contenders, only Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee "support mandatory limits on emissions of greenhouse gases," the story notes. "Mr. Huckabee, who has positioned himself as a standard-bearer for social conservatives and Christian evangelicals, recently called action on climate change a 'moral issue.' "

To read the full story, click here.

--Craig Pittman