Jindal: "Make America an Energy Superpower"...1 of 1 >

Sept. 16, 2014 -- Speaking at the Heritage Foundation, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) outlined a jobs plan based on America's energy abundance.  "Smart energy policy is the way to grow our economy and create jobs," Jindal declared.  Jindal envisages "making America an energy superpower."  Jindal's plan, co-authored with U.S. Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) and issued by his 501(c)(4) group America Next, runs to 46 pages and sets out six basic principles:

- Promote Responsible Development of Domestic Energy Resources and Construction of Infrastructure to Transport It

- Encourage Technological Innovation of Renewables and Emerging Energy Resources

- Unlock the Economic Potential of the Manufacturing Renaissance by Putting America’s Energy Resources to Work

- Eliminate Burdensome Regulations

- Bolster National Security

- Take Simple, Tangible Steps to Address the Possible Risks of Climate Change, in Concert with Other Major Economies. 

The report also takes a fair number of swipes at the Obama administration; for example, it opens  stating, "The Problem with America's Energy Policy: We Don't Have One,"
In addition to his speech and detailed plan, Jindal (Gov. Bobby Jindal @BobbyJindal) also sent out six snappy Tweets, all attacks on liberals:

Obama Admin liberals have made a religion out of opposing good energy policies - it’s their faith - & they’ve held our economy hostage. 1/6

The Obama Admin doesn’t look at facts/policy - they allow our energy policy 2 be driven by logic-free & fact-free zones in Hollywood. 2/6

When it comes 2 energy - the liberals who populate the Obama Administration are science deniers. 3/6

Liberals tout fact-free Hollywood campaigns against fracking, which gives security & clean-burning energy while lowering emissions. 4/6

If they think that YokoOno and Lady Gaga should be setting U.S. energy policy, I'm happy 2 go on record denying that it's a good idea. 5/6

Bottom line: It’s time we put a stop 2 the failed agenda of liberals who have made a religion out of opposing sensible energy policy. 6/6

After his remarks, Jindal fielded questions.  He was sharply critical of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is requiring Louisiana to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40-percent [over a period of about 15 years], a move Jindal described as "an unprecedented power grab." 

Jindal made the point that "unlaterally hurting our economy doesn't help our environment."  He cited the example of Nucor, which opened up a $3.4 billion steel facility in St. James Parish, creating 6,000 direct and indirect jobs.  The company had been weighing whether to locate the facility in Louisiana or  Brazil; the fracking boom and the availability of natural gas was one factor that helped tip the balance to Louisiana.  Jindal pointed out that if the company had located its plant in Brazil, a country with less environmental regulations, that would not have helped the environment. 

Jindal also responded to a question on his decision to pull out of the Common Core standards, stating that he had initially thought it was a good idea but had come to see that it was a top-down approach, with the federal government making local curriculum decisions.

On foreign policy, Jindal said President Obama "confuses speeches with action."  He said Obama is not only incompetent, but is "the first president that doesn't believe in American exceptionalism."
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