The Center for American Progress claims “The Waxman-Markey bill will create jobs by spurring investment in renewables and efficiency.” And its true. Our own Center for Data Analysis study of the employment impacts of Waxman-Markey shows that the bill will create some new jobs. Problem is those new jobs will be dwarfed by the job losses caused by the higher energy prices Waxman-Markey would create.

Don’t believe that Waxman-Markey is a jobs killer? Well Waxman-Markey does. Title VII, Subtitle B, Part 2 of Waxman-Markey is titled “Climate Change Worker Adjustment Assistance.” And just who are these “climate change workers”? Section 425 (b)(1)(A) says these workers must be employed in:

(i) energy producing and transforming industries;
(ii) industries dependent upon energy industries;
(iii) energy-intensive manufacturing industries;
(iv) consumer goods manufacturing; or
(v) other industries whose employment the Secretary [of Labor] determines has been adversely affected by any requirement of title 4 VII of the Clean Air Act;

In other words, just about everybody. And what kind of “adjustment” will these workers need “assistance” with? Section 425 (b)(1)(B) says these workers must:

have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated from employment

And just so there is no confusion Section 427 of Title VII defines “total separation”’ and “‘totally separated” as “layoff or severance of an individual from employment.”

So just how many “Climate Change Workers” will Waxman-Markey make elligible for “Adjustment Assistance”? Our Center for Data Analysis pegs job losses at 1,145,000 annually.