Climate Change Is Back On The Obama Agenda

President Obama listed climate change policy as one his top priorities over the next four years.  His agenda includes several other priorities which, along with climate change policy, will be resisted by Republicans.  His ability to deal with climate change will depend upon whether he has enough political capital to spend on each of his priorities.  He will have to create political capital by selling the public on his priorities.  Republicans will use all of their significant weapons against each of his priorities.

All of the programs that the president cited in his inaugural speech will require funding.  That spending will have to come from the non-defense discretionary spending part of his budget.  Jeff Sachs raises concerns about the presidents willingness to cut back on that part of the budget in his negotiations with Republicans on deficit reduction.  Non defense-discretionary spending has been shrinking during recent administrations and Obama's projected budgets show a declining share for discretionary spending.