In an unusual twist in Obama's final year in office, the Republican leaders of the House and Senate budget committees have said they will not hold a customary hearing on the president's budget proposal the day after they receive it. If approved, the budget that takes effect Oct. 1 would provide $7.7 billion for clean energy research and development across 12 federal departments and agencies for the 2017 fiscal year. The White House said this past week that Obama wants oil companies to pay a $10 fee on every barrel of oil to help raise money for spending on clean transportation to combat climate change.