Obama’s First Term Labeled a “Missed Opportunity” for Energy and Climate Legislation, Say Former Cabinet Officials.

Former President Barack Obama’s first term was marked as a “significant missed opportunity” for energy and climate legislation, according to former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The failure to secure legislation in the first term of the Obama administration was seen as a significant missed opportunity, with Chu suggesting that Obama should have tried to influence lawmakers to secure votes. While the Affordable Care Act was among the administration’s top legislative priorities, energy, climate legislation failed to pass, fizzling in the Senate, frustrating senior Democrats on Capitol Hill and in the administration.