Obama Administration Disregards Congress, Gives $500 Million to U.N. Climate Fund

The Heartland Institute discusses White House reprograming of other funds for the Green Climate Fund with Myron Ebell. 

“The Obama administration’s action is outrageous, and the fact they had to defy Congress and reprogram funds from the Economic Support Fund for the first measly $500 million contribution has enraged many members of Congress,” said Myron Ebell, director for the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. “This almost certainly guarantees Congress will never appropriate any funds, let alone tens of billions of dollars per year, for the GCF.

While Ebell doubts the Congress will enforce the Anti-Deficiency Act in this particular case, he is fairly certain it will impact the State Department’s budget in future years.

“I’m pretty sure Congress will not appropriate any money for the GCF in fiscal year 2017 and will reduce the Economic Support Fund, and perhaps other accounts, so there is not enough money in the State Department budget to reprogram more than a few millions to the GCF,” Ebell said. “I think another attempt at a rider prohibiting funding for the GCF is also likely.

“Appropriators will also have to look at the Treasury Department’s budget, because the president has requested $250 million from [it], as well as another $500 million from [the State Department],” Ebell said.

Read the full article at the Heartland Institute.