<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Real Science]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://stevengoddard.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[stevengoddard]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/author/stevengoddard/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Obama Climate Advisors Making Big Bucks Despite&nbsp;Sequester]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>After closing the doors to public tours in an effort to save money, White House officials haven&#8217;t yet said if sequester cuts will result in furloughs or layoffs for its senior staffers &#8212; as is happening with rank-and-file in other executive branch agencies.</p>
<p>But there are dozens of senior employees and other presidential &#8220;assistants&#8221; to choose from if the administration were to look at cutting the six-figure salaries from its payroll.</p>
<p>In the field of energy and climate change alone, President Obama in 2012 employed three advisers making at least $100,000 &#8212; though one has since left.</p>
<p>The president kept on staff a &#8220;deputy assistant&#8221; for energy and climate change, Heather Zichal, making $140,000; a &#8220;special assistant&#8221; for energy and environment, Nathaniel Keohane; and a &#8220;deputy director&#8221; for energy and climate change, Dan Utech.</p>
<p>Together, their salaries totaled over $370,000 last year, according to White House records.</p>
<p>Climate blogger Steven Goddard said it&#8217;s unlikely the administration will scale back its circle of advisers, at least on this issue.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a very important point to his political base,&#8221; Goddard said. &#8220;Whether he believes it or not himself, he has to make the effort to appear that he&#8217;s working on controlling the climate.&#8221;</p>
<p><a style="line-height:1.5;" href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/11/dozens-wh-senior-staffers-making-six-figure-salary-amid-sequester-woes/">Dozens of WH senior staffers making six-figure salaries amid sequester woes | Fox News</a></p></blockquote>
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