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Published May 15, 2015
Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Success Story
President Obama and other advocates of clean energy have pointed to Spain as a success story for its solar and wind-power industries.
But The New York Times writes that the once-booming Spanish business became a bust because it couldn't produce efficient green energy without large government subsidies. The Times says that might serve as "a cautionary tale for the United States — where a similar exercise is now underway."
Just last month, the Obama administration gave preliminary approval for $1.4 billion in federal loan guarantees to help build what it says will be the world's largest solar power complex in California's Mojave Desert.
Bait and Switch
The Obama administration is considering new environmental rules that could dramatically alter fishing in the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes and even inland waters.
ESPN reports the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force will most likely issue its final report later this month. Jeff Crane from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation contends the recreational fishing industry generates more than a million jobs and says the proposed rules: "have the potential to be a real threat to recreational anglers who not only contribute billions of dollars to the economy — but who are also the backbone of the American fish and wildlife conservation ethic."
Environmental groups are pushing for a stronger national ocean policy, citing what one calls unsustainable fishing practices.
Back and Forth
Last week we told you that reporters have asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs several times about Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak's claim that the White House offered him a job in the federal government to convince him to drop his primary challenge against Senator Arlen Specter. Gibbs has yet to answer the question.
Specter today said Sestak needs to back up his claim because the accusation is hurting the White House. Here is our own Major Garrett during today's White House briefing:
(BEGIN CLIP)
Major Garrett: You've told us a couple of times you'd check back on that... I wonder if there's an update number one...
Robert Gibbs: I, I, don't have the update with me but let me see if I do have it.
Garrett: Do you have any evaluation of Senator Specter's comments on this?
Gibbs: No, I don't.
(END CLIP)
As of show time tonight, there has still been no answer from White House officials on this question.
— Fox News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/green-energy-advocates-in-the-u-s-get-a-cautionary-tale-from-spain