Kevin Cramer (R-ND) has been a junior United States senator for North Dakota since taking the position in 2019. Prior to becoming a Senator, Cramer served the United States House of Representatives for the at-large congressional district of North Dakota from 2013 to 2019. Early in his political career, Cramer served as the chair of North Dakota’s Republican Party, and was part of North Dakota’s Public Service Commission.
Cramer is a big advocate for oil drilling in the U.S., a big industry in his state of North Dakota. His views on fossil fuel extraction and refinement were a big part of his endorsement of Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Cramer was then appointed by Trump as an energy advisor for his presidential campaign, and wrote a paper which outlined a proposal for an energy plan for Trump’s administration to follow. Trump and Cramer are in agreement when it comes to lessening environmental restrictions on oil drilling.
Perhaps Cramer’s strangest stance on climate change is his proposed carbon tax, which never came to fruition as Trump opposed this policy. While on the surface a carbon tax seems like a progressive way to discourage the use of fossil fuels as energy. Cramer’s plan on the other hand would see the proceeds from the carbon tax reinvested into the oil industry. In effect, the tax would only fund the extraction and use of more fossil fuels rather than support an alternative energy source.
Cramer is very adamant about keeping the American fossil fuel industry in good standing. He does support renewable energy research, but not as an alternative or replacement for fossil fuels. He also advocates for more fossil fuel trade between the United States and its allies with the reasoning that if more countries depended on American oil and coal, they might not need to rely on less friendly nations for energy.
Friends of Kevin Cramer:
Donald Trump
Climate of Denial