Biden Signs Controversial Orders On Climate, Masks
By Worthy News Breaking News Team George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
(Worthy News) – In some of his first acts as president, Democrat Joe Biden rejoined the Paris climate agreement, despite warnings by the previous administration it cost billions and undermines America’s economy.
He also canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, which is part of an oil pipeline system in Canada and the United States, owned by TC Energy and the Government of Alberta.
A planned fourth phase, Keystone XL, became a symbol of the battle over climate change and fossil fuels. While then-President Barack Obama delayed the project, Trump supported the pipeline’s completion.
Biden also ordered federal agencies to begin the process of reinstating environmental regulations that were reversed under the Donald J. Trump administration.
Many will carry masks while doing so: Biden introduced the wearing of masks on federal property to combat the coronavirus pandemic that authorities say killed 400,000 Americans. He earlier asked for a moment of silence during his inauguration.
Biden wore a mask while seated behind the Resolute Desk to sign a stack of orders early Wednesday evening. He said there was “no time to start like today.”
While his predecessor Donald Trump broke long-standing practice by skipping Biden’s inauguration, he did follow through on one tradition and left behind a letter for Biden.
The new Democratic president said Trump “wrote a very generous letter.” But Biden said he wouldn’t reveal its contents until he had a chance to speak with Trump.
His inauguration wasn’t celebrated everywhere, with protesters carrying anti-President Joe Biden and anti-police signs marching in Portland. They also damaged the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon.
Police said the group smashed windows and spray-painted anarchist symbols at the political party building on Wednesday. It was reportedly one of at least four groups planning to gather in the city on Inauguration Day.
Police officers on bicycles reportedly tried to reach someone with a weapon and attempted to remove poles affixed to a banner that they believed could be used as a weapon. But it wasn’t easy as a crowd swarmed the officers and threw objects at them, police said.
Portland was the site of frequent protests since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.
Mayor Ted Wheeler recently decried what he described as a segment of violent agitators who detract from the message of police accountability and who should be subject to “more severe punishment.”
Outgoing President Trump had warned that the United States could see more upheaval under Biden, who was backed defund-the-police-supporters.
Amid the turmoil White House press secretary Jen Psaki says President Biden will allow Congress to decide the way forward on the impeachment trial of his predecessor Trump.
The former president has been accused of instigating the recent deadly assault on the U.S. capitol in which at least five people died. Trump denied wrongdoing and condemned the violence.
Psaki said Wednesday in the first press briefing of the Biden administration that the president believes members of the Senate should figure out how to proceed with a trial that could consume the opening weeks of his presidency.
It was Trump’s second impeachment, a record for any president.