House Global Warming Plan Doesn’t Address Senate Concerns
Nicolas Loris /
Last year, the US Senate tried to advance a national energy tax, which masquerades as a cap-and-trade program, sponsored by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA). After the policy was defeated, ten Democrats sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, stating their opposition to the proposed plan. The Senators, all from “regions of the country that will be most immediately affected by climate legislation,” believed the plan would harm their local economies. They set forth several criteria that would be essential to earning their support:
• Contain Costs and Prevent Harm to the U.S. Economy
• Invest Aggressively in New Technologies and Deployment of Existing Technology
• Treat States Equitably
• Protect America’s Working Families
• Protect U.S. Manufacturing Jobs and Strengthen International Competitiveness
• Fully Recognize Agriculture and Forestry’s Role
• Clarify Federal/State Authority
• Provide Accountability for Consumer Dollars
The harsh reality is that no matter how you construct a national energy tax those conditions will never be satisfied. That includes the discussion draft currently being debated in the House Energy and Commerce Committee that is sponsored by Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA). Let’s quickly take the provisions one-by-one.