Energy

On April 23, 2007, Senator McCain gave a speech where he supported using flex-fuel vehicles, ethanol-based fuels, plug-in cars, and caps on green house gas emissions. Senator McCain supports further developing nuclear energy to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. However, he has long been opposed to ethanol subsidies, including voting against the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6) because of concerns that ethanol mandates would raise gas prices. He also believes that the United States should not join international climate change agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol until China and India agree to join as well.

As part of his economic plan, released in a speech on April 15, 2008, McCain proposed a temporary "gas-tax holiday"--a summertime repeal of federal taxes on gas from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The taxes which he wants Congress to temporarily suspend are the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax. He also said that America should suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the same time period because it is increasing the price of oil.

Evolution/Intelligent Design

During a New York campaign stop, Senator McCain stated that he believes in evolution, stating: “From a personal standpoint, I believe in evolution. When I stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and I see the sun going down, I believe the hand of God was there."

Environment

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Senator McCain has voted against drilling in ANWR ^[1].

Climate Change

On April 15, 2008, climate change advisers to McCain, as well as Clinton, and Obama, spoke at a panel hosted by the Society of Environmental Journalists on what their candidates would do to fight global climate change.

In an op-ed piece for The Boston Globe co-written with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Senator McCain wrote “There is now a broad consensus in this country, and indeed in the world, that global warming is happening, that it is a serious problem, and that humans are causing it.” He has named climate change one of the top three issues of his presidency. In the Senate he co-introduced the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act (S. 280) with Senator Lieberman which seeks to lower greenhouse gas levels to 60% of 1990 levels by 2050 through an annually ratcheted emissions cap and a system that will allow companies to trade emissions credits.

McCain's campaign announced its climate change plan to cap-and-trade green house gas emissions in a speech on May 12, 2008. The plan would place a cap on the amount of green house gas emissions that are permitted to be released by companies within certain industries, and then slowly decrease the amount of allowed emissions over time. Companies will have a certain amount of allowable emissions that will be purchased in an auction, and then they will be able to buy or sell their emissions permits in accordance with the amount of green house gases they emit. Companies that can find ways to decrease emissions through invention or technological improvement can sell the their extra permits to other companies. The targets of the program are to decrease emissions to 2005 levels by 2012, and eventually reduce emissions to 60% of 1990 levels by 2050. In time, some of the proceeds from the auction of emissions will be used to fund the research and development of low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen and nuclear power. Details of the plan include:

• The plan covers the electric power, transportation fuels, industrial businesses, and commercial businesses. Small businesses are exempt.
• It would allow companies to "borrow" and "bank" permits so that emissions reductions can be achieved in the most economically efficient times.
• It would integrate the U.S. cap and trade plan with other international plans, allowing access to low-cost permits.
• It would establish a Strategic Carbon Reserve as a source of permits during economically hard times.

The New York Times noted in an article on the speech that McCain has missed several votes in the Senate on increasing fuel economy standards and has opposed tax breaks for alternative energies.^[2]

Healthcare

Senator McCain unveiled his healthcare plan during a speech at a campaign stop in Iowa on October 11, 2007. Based mostly on insurance reforms and decreasing costs, the plan would eliminate tax codes favoring employee-based plans and allot tax credits of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to assist with insurance costs. McCain's plan also calls for insurance to be portable instead of tied to employment. In the Senate, McCain has worked to make prescription drugs more affordable to U.S. consumers by introducing legislation that supports prescription drug importation from other countries.

In a speech on his new economic plan given on April 15, 2008, McCain proposed increasing Medicare prescription drug prices for more affluent seniors, saying "Those who can afford to buy their own prescription drugs should be expected to do so."

On April 29, 2008, McCain released the details of his vision for health care during a speech at the University of South Florida. The plan specifies:

• Allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines.
• Giving individuals and families the option of receiving a direct refundable tax credit of $2500 or $5000, respectively, for the purchase of insurance.
• Working with state governments to develop a "Guaranteed Access Plan," a best practices model which would include a reasonable limit on premiums and assistance to low income Americans.
• Using availability of information technologies to allow doctors to practice across state lines.
• Passing tort reform legislation.

Sex Education

In a 2007 interview, Senator McCain said that sex education in the United States should follow President Bush's policy of abstinence-only education. McCain has supported Bush's abstinence-only policy, and has voted again legislation to ensure sex education to be scientifically accurate and not just abstinence based.

HIV/AIDS

McCain participated in ONE campaign's On The Record project. See Youtube (below). In a statement released by his campaign on Global Aids Day (December 1, 2007), McCain supported maintaining the United States commitment to fighting AIDS, writing:

"It's critical that we face this crisis head-on, which is why I have consistently supported the most aggressive global AIDS program in the history of this pandemic, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Afflicted nations with whom we partner to fight this disease must also know that we expect a level of governance, transparency and effectiveness from them in order to make the fullest use of AIDS assistance so we can make the greatest impact on people's lives. Our commitment must be sustained, and our nation must always be faithful to those at home and abroad as they cope with the ravages of HIV/AIDS."^[3]

Internet

Broadband Access

McCain believes that the government should encourage market forces to work in expanding broadband infrastructure, but does not see it as the role of the government itself to expand access. In a January 2008 interview with CNet News.com, McCain said "We should place the federal government in the role of stimulator, rather than regulator, of broadband services, remove state and local barriers to broadband deployment, and facilitate deployment of broadband services to rural and undeserved communities."

Internet Tax

In 1997, McCain co-sponsored the Internet Tax Freedom Act (S. 442) to establish a national policy against state and local government interference in interstate internet commerce and to place a three year moratorium on internet taxation. In 1999, McCain introduced legislation to amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make the moratorium on state and local taxes permanent. In 2007 he co-sponsored similar legislation, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007 (S. 156), to ban state and local taxation of the internet.

NASA

According to McCain's campaign website:

"John McCain is a strong supporter of NASA and the space program. He is proud to have sponsored legislation authorizing funding consistent with the President's vision for the space program, which includes a return of astronauts to the Moon in preparation for a manned mission to Mars. He believes support for a continued US presence in space is of major importance to America's future innovation and security. He has also been a staunch advocate for ensuring that NASA funding is accompanied by proper management and oversight to ensure that the taxpayers receive the maximum return on their investment. John McCain believes curiosity and a drive to explore have always been quintessential American traits. This has been most evident in the space program, for which he will continue his strong support."

In 2004, McCain also introduced the NASA Authorization Act of 2004 (S. 2541), which authorized appropriations for NASA from FY2005 to FY2009 for work relating to the International Space Station, human and robotic technology, and space shuttle and space flight support.

Research and Development Funding

In a January 2008 interview with CNet News.com, McCain pledged to "support innovation by funding basic research, and reforming and making permanent the R&D tax credit."

McCain often criticizes a $3 million study on the DNA of grizzly bears as an example of wasteful spending--even featuring the study in a campaign commercial in March of 2008. The Washington Post reports, however, that the study is an important piece of work in determining whether the population of grizzlies in Montana have rebounded to the point that they can be removed from the endangered species list.^[4]

In a press release that accompanied an April 2008 speech on the economy, McCain said he would make permanent a tax cut for R&D that is equal to 10% of wages in order to "provide an incentive to innovate and remove uncertainty."

Stem Cell Research

McCain supports expanded federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells and voted in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5), which was later vetoed by President Bush. He voted for similar legislation in 2006.

Speeches on Science and Health Issues

May 12, 2008 Remarks By John McCain on Climate Change Policy

April 29, 2008 By John McCain On Health Care On Day Two Of The "Call To Action Tour"

April 15, 2008 Remarks by John McCain on the Economy

January 12, 2008 Prosperity Michigan Summit

December 10, 2007 Center for Hydrogen Research

November 5, 2007 Bio Economy

October 11, 2007 Healthcare

April 23, 2007 Energy Policy

November 5, 2007 Bio Economy

SCIENCE IN THE DEBATES

CNN/L.A. Times/Politico.com Republican Debate, January 30, 2008

Question:Senator McCain, Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed that California be allowed to implement much tougher environmental regulations on emission requirements than apply to the rest of the country. This is an initiative that conservatives generally oppose, and the Bush administration rejected California's request.Do you side with the governor or with the Bush administration?

McCain: Well, there's some physical danger. I have to agree with the governor. Look, I'm a federalist. And I believe the states should decide to enormous degrees what happens within those states, including off their coasts. The people of California have decided they don't want oil drilling off their coasts. The people of Louisiana have decided that they do. I applaud the governor's efforts and that of other states in this region and other states across America to try to eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change.

Now, suppose that the governor and I are wrong, and there's no such thing as climate change. And we adopt these green technologies, of which America and the innovative skills we have and the entrepreneurship and the free market which is embodied by Senator Lieberman's and mine cap-and-trade proposal is enacted, and there's no such thing as climate change. Then all we've done is give our kids a cleaner world. But suppose we do nothing. Suppose we do nothing, and we don't eliminate this $400 billion dependence we have on foreign oil. Some of that money goes to terrorist organizations and also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Then what kind of a world have we given our children?

The state of California and the state of Arizona, we Westerners care very much about our environment and we want to act. And it's no secret that I have disagreed with the Bush administration in not being more active in addressing the issue of climate change, whether it be through cap-and-trade, through tax incentives for R&D for green technologies and many other measures that I think need to be taken.We are feeling here in California pollution from China. It is a global issue, and we have to address it globally. And I would not agree to any global agreement without India and China being part of it.

But I want to assure you that we have an obligation to try to stem these greenhouse gas emissions. And one of the ways is through the use of nuclear power. The French generate 80 percent of their electricity with nuclear power. I think that -- by the way, we now have a pro-American president in France, which shows if you live long enough, anything is possible in this world. But the point is, young Americans care. Californians care. People all over this country care. And we have to address this issue. We can do it. The greatness and strength of America is in our innovative capability and our ability to develop these green technologies. General Electric, the world's largest corporation, is committed to green technologies. We can do it. And to somehow believe that it will cost more money if we unleash the innovative and entrepreneurship of America I think does not have confidence in the ability of Americans to address this issue.

View Transcript

NBC Presidential Debate, January 24, 2008

Question: Senator McCain, you are in favor of mandatory caps.

McCain: No, I am in favor of cap-and-trade. And Joe Lieberman and I, one of my favorite Democrats and I, have proposed that it's, and we did the same thing with acid rain. They're doing it in Europe now, although not very well. And all we are saying is, look, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions; you earn a credit. Somebody else is going to increase theirs; you can sell it to them.

And meanwhile we have a gradual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We need a global agreement, but it has to include India and China. We need to go back to nuclear power. We cannot be dependent on $400 billion a year paying for foreign oil. There's a nexus here.

But climate change, in my view, is real. It can affect states like Florida dramatically because I think it has to do with violent weather changes, as well. But I am confident, I am confident American technology can -- and the embrace of green technologies, many of the things that Rudy just talked about, and nuclear power being one of them -- we can reduce these greenhouse gas emissions.

View Transcript

FOX News Republican Debate, January 10, 2008

Question: Senator McCain, some of these ideas that are being talked about, like education and research and development, are longer term. If we're talking about a recession in the next few months, in 2008, what kind of short-term, more immediate government fixes would you propose to try to keep the slowdown diminished or to reverse it? And would you support them even if they added to the government deficit?

McCain: …The second thing that we need to do, of course, is stop spending $400 billion a year overseas to oil-producing countries that come right out of our economy immediately. Some of that money goes, unfortunately, to fund terrorist organizations. We've got to -- and we can use Detroit for this, where there's tremendous technology in the state of Michigan, and tremendous abilities to develop technologies to reduce this dependency on foreign oil, and eventually eliminate it, and stop this outflow of some $400 billion a year. Education and training is obviously important, but stop the spending.

View Transcript

’’Des Moines Register’’ Republican Debate, December 12, 2007

Question: Considering that poverty and abuse are often blamed for fostering terrorism, should we alter trade policies with those countries? Senator McCain.

McCain: Well, obviously we should make sure that every nation respects human rights, and we should advocate that and try to enforce it. But I will open every market in the world to Iowa's agricultural products. I'm the biggest free marketer and free trader that you will ever see. And I will also eliminate subsidies on ethanol and other agricultural products. They are an impediment to competition; they are an impediment to free markets. And I believe that subsidies are a mistake, and I don't believe that anybody can stand here and say that they're a fiscal conservative and yet support subsidies which distort markets and destroy our ability to compete in the world, and destroy our ability to get cheaper products into the United States of America. …

Question: We're going to follow up on that, but what I need to know is who believes global climate change is serious and caused by human activity.

<crosstalk>

McCain: And I think climate change is real, and I –

McCain: I've been involved in this issue since the year 2000. I have had hearings. I've traveled the world. I know that climate change is real. But let me put -- put it to you this way. Suppose that climate change is not real, and all we do adopt green technologies, which our economy and our technology is perfectly capable of. Then all we've done is given our kids a cleaner world. But suppose they are wrong. Suppose they are wrong, and climate change is real, and we've done nothing. What kind of a planet are we going to pass on to the next generation of Americans? It's real. We've got to address it. We can do it with technology, with cap-and- trade, with capitalist and free enterprise motivation. And I'm confident that we can pass on to our children and grandchildren a cleaner, better world.

View Transcript

MSNBC/CNBC Republican Debate, October 9, 2007

Question: Senator McCain, ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips this past year earned a combined $72 billion in profits. Is that too much? Should the oil industry pay higher taxes, or should it be required to use some of those profits to help solve our energy problems?

McCain: I would hope that they would use those profits to further the cause of alternate energy, nuclear power, a lot of other ways that we have to employ in order to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. By the way, I wouldn't drill off the coast of Florida unless the people of Florida wanted to. And I wouldn't drill off the coast of California unless the people of California wanted to, and I wouldn't drill in the Grand Canyon unless the people in Arizona wanted to.

View Transcript

CNN Republican Debate, June 5, 2007

Question: Senator McCain, do you have a problem at this time with these oil companies making these huge profits?

McCain: Sure, I think we all do. And they ought to be reinvesting it. And one of the areas that they ought to be involved in is nuclear power. Nuclear power is safe, nuclear power is green — does not green — emit greenhouse gases. Nuclear power is used on Navy ships which have sailed around the world for 60 years without an accident. And of course we ought to be investing in alternate energy sources.

Recently there was a group of retired military officers who said that climate change an energy independence is a national security issue. It is. We’ve got to reduce our dependence on imported oil. We can do it through a wide variety of alternative fuels. But we have to be serious about it, and we’re going to have to go places where we have never gone before. And nuclear power is one of the major issues, but also all kinds of ethanol as well, so.

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MSNBC/Politico.com Republican Debate, May 3, 2007

Question: Senator, embryonic stem cell federal funding.

McCain: I want to thank Mrs. Reagan for the many kindnesses extended to me many -- and my fellow prisoners of war many years ago when we came home to this wonderful state. I believe that we need to fund this. This is a tough issue for those of us in the pro-life community. I would remind you that these stem cells are either going to be discarded or perpetually frozen. We need to do what we can to relieve human suffering. It's a tough issue. I support federal funding.

View Transcript

Endnotes

1. ↑ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SP2358:
2. ↑ Elizabeth Bumiller and John Broder, McCain Differs with Bush on Climate Change, The New York Times, May 13, 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/us/politics/13mccain.html?pagewanted=1.
3. ↑ Statement By John McCain On World AIDS Day. December 1, 2007.http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/news/pressreleases/d94d7240-e810-441d-aeac-4391f957cc28.htm
4. ↑ Joel Achenbach. "McCain Sees Pork Where Scientists See Success." The Washington Post.March 10, 2008.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/09/AR2008030902152.html?nav=rss_nation/science