Jindal accused members of the Obama administration of being “science deniers.” | John Shinkle/POLITICO Jindal: White House 'science deniers'

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on Tuesday accused members of the Obama administration of being “science deniers” while skirting a series of questions about his personal views on climate change.

“The reality is, right now, we’ve got an administration —the Obama administration — that are science deniers when it comes to harnessing America’s energy resources and the potential to create good-paying jobs,” the Republican and potential 2016 candidate said at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.


He went on to summarize his energy plan — titled “Organizing Around Abundance: Making America an Energy Superpower” — which calls for promoting “responsible development of domestic energy resources,” building the Keystone pipeline and coordinating with other countries on any actions to address climate change.

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“Absolutely, let’s listen to scientists, absolutely, let’s work with job creators,” Jindal said. “But let’s not do so in a way that hurts our economy.”

Asked about his personal views on climate change, he said he believed that the climate is “always changing.”

“It’s not controversial to say human activity is contributing” to changes in climate, he said, but he said he would “leave it to scientists to decide how much, what that means…”

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When a reporter interjected to ask whether it was established in the scientific community that humans are contributing to climate change, Jindal replied that is plan is “not trying to litigate that.” He further said that to the extent that the issue is addressed, he wants it handled with international partners, a point he reiterated later Tuesday in an address at the Heritage Foundation.

Pressed on what he meant by calling the administration “science deniers,” Jindal pointed to “their approach to energy policy,” saying the White House should push for building the Keystone pipeline and blasting Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

At Heritage, he further unpacked his new energy proposal, saying that there is the opportunity for new, good-paying jobs stemming from the energy sector and beyond. But he said that the country should be wary of those on the “left” who use climate change as a “Trojan horse.”

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“It’s an excuse for the government to come in and tell us what kind of homes we live in, what kind of cars we drive, what kind of lifestyles we can enjoy,” he said. “It’s an excuse for [some] who never liked free-market economies, who never liked rapid economic growth. And we need to guard against those who would…hide behind climate change as an excuse to slow down our economy.”

Earlier this year, Jindal, who is fashioning himself as a policy wonk in the run-up to 2016, laid out a plan to replace President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

On Tuesday, the governor said, as he has before, that he would decide whether to run for the presidency after the midterm elections. He said he’ll have to consider a number of factors, including: “Do I think I can make a difference? Do I have something unique to offer?”

The governor, who is suing the Obama administration over the Common Core education standards, was also asked at the breakfast about his views on evolution.

He said he wants local schools to be able to make their own decisions about curriculum, but that as a father, he wants his children exposed to “the best science, the best critical thinking” and to learn about evolution. He didn’t, however, delve into his personal beliefs on the issue.

At the Heritage Foundation, Jindal was asked about his opposition to Common Core. He stressed that he supports “rigor,” but that he opposes “what Common Core became, which is a top-down federal approach to setting standards and driving curriculum in local schools.”

Jindal also blasted the Obama administration’s foreign policy. He has been critical of the Obama administration’s approach to ISIL, the militant group ascendant in the Middle East, and he reiterated that Obama’s “dithering and delaying” has allowed the group to gain steam.

“If speeches actually accomplished something, we would have the best foreign policy in a generation,” he said at the breakfast. “Unfortunately they do not.”

But Jindal also said he would support the White House’s proposals for air strikes and aid to moderate Syrian rebels, saying it was good the administration was seeking congressional approval for some measures in the Middle East. He noted that in his view, the president has the authority to take limited action there without Congress’ approval.

His energy proposal notes that America can boost its national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil.