Obama: Environmental Genius?

Earlier this week I wrote about Obama's push for bipartisan environmental legislation, including support for conservative measures like so-called clean coal. But while this moderate strategy has defined his legislative rhetoric and press coverage, it conceals a distinct liberal streak.

In fact, behind the scenes, Obama may be the most environmentally progressive president we've ever had.

To wit: The president's recently announced budget [pdf], which includes a proposed $10 billion for the EPA. That's just a 5 percent dip from his previous budget — despite the deficit and potential budget freeze. And it trumps his predecessor: Over his second term in office, Bush budgeted an average $7.3 billion for the EPA, meaning Obama has provided 41 percent more money for environmental action in his first two years than Bush did in his last four, including 21 percent more for "Clean Air and Climate Change." (You can search the figures here.)

Of course, it's to be expected that Obama would best W., a notorious friend to Big Oil. But he's also spent significantly more than former president Clinton (see p. 11 of this [pdf] budget proposal), so the distinction can't be attributed entirely to Bush or to partisanship.

Beyond the EPA budget, Obama has also quietly slipped through a number of progressive, and often bold, measures. He raised the auto efficiency standard in the midst of the auto industry blowup. He blocked a Bush-era rule weakening endangered species protection almost immediately after he entered office, despite the fact that the environment was far from the most pressing issue on the public's agenda.

And though he's made some attempts to appease oil and gas, many of his behind-the-scenes measures have stuck it to the industry. He repealed a rule that excused oil and gas companies from a review process protecting the endangered polar bear, canceled key oil and gas leases, and is currently seeking a repeal on $36.5 billion in tax breaks to Big Oil. (While he's been more wishy-washy on offshore drilling, even in that area he's successfully worked against some of Bush's more egregious measures.)

It's certainly not unprecedented for a politician to work differently in the legislature than he does as an executive, and Obama is by no means perfect on the environment. But the level of distinction between what he's telling Congress and what he's actually doing, suggests both a commitment to the environment and real knowledge of the political game.

It's too early to say if the dualist approach will work in the long-term—but if it does, it may be one the great successes of Obama's presidency.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons