Posted on 01/19/2017 6:44:09 AM PST by SeekAndFind
As he tries to convince the Senate to put him in charge of the Energy Department, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry will tell lawmakers Thursday that he was wrong to recommend eliminating that same department.
During his 2012 presidential campaign, Mr. Perry, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for energy secretary, advocated getting rid of the Energy Department, along with several other federal agencies. At one GOP primary debate he was unable to remember all of the departments he sought to scrap, leading to his infamous Oops moment.
More than four years later, Mr. Perry now is a full-throated supporter of the Energy Department and said hes learned a great deal about the agencys role through conversations with current Secretary Ernest Moniz and others.
I have learned a great deal about the important work being done every day by the outstanding men and women of the DOE. I have spoken several times to Secretary Moniz and his predecessors. If confirmed, my desire is to lead this agency in a thoughtful manner, surrounding myself with expertise on the core functions of the department, Mr. Perry will tell the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday morning, according to excerpts released by the Trump transition team.
My past statements made over five years ago about abolishing the Department of Energy do not reflect my current thinking, the former governor will say. In fact, after being briefed on so many of the vital functions of the Department of Energy, I regret recommending its elimination. If confirmed, I will enter this role excited and passionate about advancing the core missions of the DOE, and drawing greater attention to the vital role played by the agency and the hard working men and women who dedicate themselves in pursuit of these missions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Before ‘77, it was called the Atomic Energy Commission. Before that, it was called the Manhattan Engineering District.
What a novel idea!
:)
Actually, I like the UK approach - “Atomic Weapons Establishment”
No sense mincing words.
It's purpose for being created was to help ween the U.S. off of the use of FOREIGN oil.
That was better than 39 years ago and today the DOE has a 30 plus BILLION dollar budget, thousands and thousands of employees and does NOTHING in regard to its initial goal.
If things don't change.. they stay the same!
He’s embarrassing himself. He’s groveling.
He’s embarrassing himself. He’s groveling.
America’s best and brightest should be in charge of the restructuring of all the Cabinet level agencies and the elimination thereof, not some washed up politico hacks that don’t even know what the agency is supposed to do and use them instead to advance political agendas that are self-serving.
WE, as American citizens, deserve better than to see our tax dollars pissed away on pipe dreams and pie in the sky.
Unregrettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
That's why, DOE-ling, it's incredible
That someone so unregrettable
Thinks that I am unregrettable too
How many are actually functional in current inventory.
What type? They are not all the same.
Where are they stored?
Modernizing may not mean redesigning the pits or major components, but to do with changes in the delivery system.
They do not have an indefinite shelf life. They must be periodically serviced.
My father-in-law made them for 40 years. It is not run by same company now, but the people who work there are certainly patriotic Americans.
“WWII nukes”
There are none.
Fine. Transfer that important task to DoD.
Baloney. We don’t buy nuke material anymore since FERC won’t approve new permits. U.S sits on one of largest uranium reserves. DOE isn’t needed for that. We should allow fuel rods to be reprocessed, like France.
RE: It’s purpose for being created was to help ween the U.S. off of the use of FOREIGN oil.
While that was one reason for the formation of the Department of Energy, the other big reason was to have one Department handle all aspects of the nation’s nuclear program (from reactors to bombs to disposal of waste). In essence, have a “one-stop shop” where anyone that needed a nuclear expert could go.
That’s why they handled the development and production of our nuclear weapons and currently handle their maintenance. (and would design and build more if we were doing that)
And, I think, they are also responsible for helping develop nuclear power plants. Or at least, having their nuclear scientists set the safety standards.
Hopefully people like Perry will take a page from the leftist playbook and say what the interrogators want to hear then do what is necessary once they are in there.
Heh heh heh...
Especially since the program will not be theirs, but Trump's.
No, Job 1 is getting his cabinet confirmed and in place. They'll do as told by Trump.
He doesn’t mean it!!!
Perry clearly did not know what the department did when he wanted to get rid of it (I think he admitted as much), and neither did I. What it mostly does (Nuclear stuff) is important but I don’t think it needs it’s own cabinet department, sounds like something for a Defense Undersec or something.
Or something to be folded into “Interior” along with with transportation and Agriculture. So many of these Departments are so minor in what they do. Sec of Housing having the same rank as Sec of State seems kinda stupid to me, I’d pare down the Cabinet.
Back in the Day it was only State, Treasury, AG, War, Navy, Interior, and Postmaster General (used as a sinecure to appoint a political adviser to the cabinet)
Remember, this in the context of confirming hearings where the Senate is controlled by Republicans and his confirmation is expected to sail through committee without incident.
He'd have nothing to lose by saying he stands by statements from 2012 that the department may be unnecessary and if he is DOE Secretary, he would do so if that's the best course of action. However, he said the opposite at his confirmation hearing.
The ONLY reason Perry has "evolved" on this issue is because he'd rather have a nice cushy federal job than have to stick with his "principles" and work to dismantle his department.
It's like we told his supporters (in vain) during the 2012 campaign: Perry talks tough on the campaign trail, then is Mr. Softie when it comes to actually governing.
If Perry's statements at his confirmation mean nothing and he actually makes an effort to abolish the DOE and transfer its functions to other Departments during his tenure, I'll be shocked and thrilled that I was wrong. As it stands, (and looking at his behavior as Governor and statements at the committee hearing), I'd give it about an 85% chance the DOE INCREASES in size under Perry.
Yes, I'm cynical, but this guy is only against "big government" when someone else is in charge of it.
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