# What Should Be Obama's First Priority?

*Published:* 2008-11-13
*Author:* Tony Kreindler

![Tony Kreindler](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2008/03/tony_kreindler.jpg)Last week, Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza asked for [thoughts on what Obama’s first legislative priority should be](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/wag_the_blog_what_should_obama.html) upon taking office. I submitted this comment:

> President-elect Barack Obama will face a series of challenges that rival any of his modern predecessors — a damaged economy, a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, aging and inefficient U.S. infrastructure, and a deteriorating environment.
> 
> Each individually would warrant the immediate attention of the White House. But the President-elect has an historic opportunity to work with Congress on a plan to address them all. That plan should start with a cap on global warming pollution.
> 
> With that cap, we can help revitalize the economy by instantly creating new markets and new customers for U.S. manufacturers in the supply chain for clean energy technologies – think wind turbines and all of the cement and steel that go into them. We can stem the flow of petrodollars overseas, by as much as $500 billion over the next two decades by MIT estimates. And we can generate new revenue for investment in America by auctioning emissions permits – all while fighting climate change.
> 
> It’s the energy policy America needs now. President-elect Obama should begin working with Congress early in his administration to enact a cap and restore U.S. leadership in the global climate change debate.

This morning, Cilizza posted a follow-up with [excerpts from "the most interesting/provocative thoughts"](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/wag_the_blog_redux_what_should.html) he received, and I was happy to see my suggestion among them: a cap on global warming pollution.

*This post is by Tony Kreindler, media director for the National Climate Campaign at Environmental Defense Fund.*