In a bid to Out-Gore her Democratic foes, HRC today unveiled an ambitious energy program with lofty goals (many of them already outlined in a May 2006 speech to the National Press Club). But there are a few eye-popping big-ticket additions aimed at wooing The Prius Voter:
--a $10,000 tax credit for people who buy hybrids
--$2 billion federal investment in R & D to prod U.S. automakers to speed development of plug-in hybrids
--a $20 billion "Green Vehicle Bond" to help automakers move away from gas-based engines
--billions more for mass transit.
--billions more for 10 unspecified "large-scale" energy projects
Clinton claims the push for energy efficiency will create 5 million new "green collar" jobs; Her enemies are sure to pounce on the big-ticket items, saying she's an irresponsible big spender.
Glenn Thrush