Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

The Policy Racket

President Obama to talk economy in Reno, highlight potential of renewable energy

When he comes to Reno Thursday, President Obama will be focusing on the deficit, but he’ll be doing it against a backdrop that also promotes his administration’s focus on renewable energy.

Obama will be holding his town hall on “Shared Responsibility and Shared Prosperity” -- those being the themes he anchored his deficit reduction speech on last week -- at ElectraTherm, Inc., a company that produces units to convert waste heat from any source into usable power, and just so happens to have received almost a million dollars in grant funding to develop its 30-70 kilowatt units from the Department of Energy last year.

“The ElectraTherm Green Machine is the world first commercially viable waste heat generator,” reads the firm’s website. “Our systems are low cost, fuel-free and emissions-free.”

The event comes on the heels of town halls the president will be holding in northern Virginia on Tuesday and at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., on Wednesday.

The topic for all three is how to battle back the country’s mounting national debt.

Renewable energy development has always been part of the president’s growth strategy, and that likely won’t escape mention Thursday when he speaks at ElectraTherm; in a news release, the White House stressed that Obama would discuss: “continuing to make the smart investments needed to create jobs and grow our economy.”

But the president has to defend a platform that’s much broader than that: a plan to cut $4 trillion from the deficit in 12 years through new cuts and new taxes.

“We must work together, begin to live within our means, and make shared sacrifices in order to rein in the deficit and meet the tough challenges of the future,” the White House’s announcement read Monday.

The president’s deficit reduction goal is slightly less than what Republicans have promised to cut through an alternative plan: they say they can cut $6.2 trillion in the same time frame, and do it without raising taxes.

In fact the House passed such a plan, authored by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, on Friday before Congress departed Washington for a two-week recess.

But Democrats have railed against it, calling it a bold-faced attempt to “end Medicare as we know it.”

“The Republicans' plan is a boon to insurance companies at seniors’ expense,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “Nevadans cannot afford this irresponsible proposal that will force seniors to pay more for health care at the same time that it gives tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires and protects government giveaways to big oil companies and corporations that ship American jobs overseas.”

The Republican House-backed Ryan plan essentially converts Medicare into a partially-privatized voucher system, indexed to seniors projected health care costs and graduated so that those with higher medical needs can receive a more generous stipend. As envisioned in the bill, it would kick in for future Medicare recipients 54 and younger.

It also converts Medicaid into a block-grant program for the states, a shift that Republicans say will free up governors and state legislatures to tailor program coverage to local needs, but Democrats find equally objectionable.

"This budget makes the wrong choices for the people of Nevada by slashing Medicaid at a time when so many families in Las Vegas, Reno and throughout the Silver State are looking to this program to make sure their children can see the doctor when they get sick," said Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley. "I will not stand by and watch as Republicans attempt to destroy Medicare and Medicaid and cut education and clean energy funding just so they can reward big oil and companies that send jobs abroad."

Nevada Republicans have defended the proposals as a necessary step to save the country from its debt and health care entitlements -- which now that we’re in the age of supporting baby boomers, are paying out far more claims and benefits than ever in their history -- from extinction.

“The choices are clear, we can continue with the status quo which leads to bigger government, higher taxes, less jobs, and rationed health care for our seniors or we can decrease government spending, create jobs, and preserve Medicare for future generations while making no changes for current recipients,” said Nevada Rep. Dean Heller. “It is time for government to be accountable to the American people and make decisions that lead the way for greater prosperity and fulfills our promises to future generations.”

But in Reno Thursday, it’ll be the President’s turn to make his case once again. The event is not, however, open to the public. The audience is expected to include employees of the company, community college students, and other guests, as well as the media.

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