If any WUWT readers have moderates in their congressional district, now is the time to make your opinions known.
May I suggest that you send your congressional representative this story with a request to read it on the floor. And while you are at it, the EPA shenanigans and my surfacestations report. – Anthony
From CNN political ticker
House Democrats unsure of global warming bill’s passage
WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Democratic leaders are furiously lobbying their members and moderate Republicans to support a landmark energy bill in the face of resistance from some conservative members of their own party, and staunch opposition from the GOP — roadblocks that are making it difficult to find the 218 votes necessary to pass the measure, according to Democratic leadership aides.
A vote on the Clean Energy and Security Act, which would restrict emissions of green house gases and require use of alternative energy in an effort to slow the effects of global warming, is scheduled for Friday.
The legislation’s lead sponsors held a pep rally outside the Capitol on Wednesday to whip up support for the legislation’s passage.
“We are going to pass the most important energy and environment bill in history,” declared Rep Ed Markey, D-Masachusetts, chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “We are going to reduce the carbon we send up into the atmosphere but at the same time we are going to begin to back out the oil that we import from countries that we should not be importing it from.”
The legislation would require a 17 percent emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2020, mandate electric utilities to meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources by 2020, provide $90 billion for new investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, along with $60 billion for carbon capture and sequestration. Another key provision, termed “cap-and-trade,” would require industries and manufacturers to cut carbon emissions by setting up a system where they could buy and sell pollution credits.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi conceded Wednesday evening that there were not enough votes to pass the bill, but that meetings with Democrats and Republicans were ongoing. Many Democrats from rural districts are concerned about the bill’s effect on the manufacturing of ethanol and other biofuels, while Republicans have questioned the overall price tag to Americans.
“This legislation has really been quite an experience for all of us,” said Pelosi. “This is really about regional differences, as well as philosophical differences.”
Democrats are hoping that a recent evaluation by Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which estimates that the annual economywide cost of the cap-and-trade program in 2020 would be $22 billion — or about $175 per household, is enough to alleviate concerns of some members.
But House Republican leaders claim the CBO estimate is too low, and doesn’t adequately gauge the harmful effect that stricter regulations will have on business and industry.
“There is no question that the cap and trade bill will cost millions of jobs and it is pretty evident, I think now, given the word that we are hearing that the other side has 190 votes at this point, far short of that which are needed to pass this bill,” said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Virginia.
Despite concerns about not getting any Republicans to ultimately support the bill, Democratic leaders are hoping their more conservative members coalesce around a “grand agreement” being worked out with Rep Colin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the Agriculture Committee and a leading voice for rural Democrats concerned with the bill.
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Politicians could be very happy not to have passed this CCBill in a few years, when the AGW theory is finally publicly discredited.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration will still be trying to achieve the same objectives through EPA regulation of “toxic” CO2.
Joseph romm says:
“So yes, there is a strong link between climate change, which is now predominantly driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases, and the rise in many different type of extreme weather events — and that rise will accelerate in the future and the link will grow. Until, of course, the climate just changes, and in many regions we stop using the word drought, and use the word Dust Bowl — assuming that we aren’t smart enough to ignore the siren song of the deniers and solve this problem.”
so if we don’t pass this bill, it is the deniers that are blocking prevention of the next dustbowl. I want to know when and where the next dust bowl is because it is already scheduled and human intervention they say will specifically prevent it.
“siren song” i translate to an old word called superstition.
For context, the above quote was an explanation of the heavy duty rain at the U.S. Open. We have always read about strong storms but “These Ones are now not regular strong storms but AGW induced events”
the group” Farmers Union” ihappy with the changes but they speak for very few farmers. THE American Farm Bureau is still against the Waxman- energy bill. We forget so easly how much of rural America is heated with propane. I’m sure it will go sky high again. It was $2.17 here last year and many people switched to heating a few room with an electric heater last year. With cap and trade Propane and electricity could both go up in price. That would drive many people out of their homes in the winter.
The bill will pass. They’ve added enough pork to guarantee that there will be just enough Republicans jumping ship to compensate for the Democrats who chickened out when they saw their constituents with “pitchforks and torches”.
Pelosi knows this but she has to look worried in public. She hopes that some people will take it as a sign that the bill will be defeated and not send more emails and letters to wavering Democrats.
Stupidity trumps liberty every time. Liberty had a 200 year run, which in retrospect, was a lot longer than most people expected.
Leaks from Hill offices indicate that the president would now be forced to impose the carbon tariffs — and could only opt out of doing so with permission from both chambers of Congress. Carbon-intensive imports would be subject to penalties at the border unless the country of origin requires emission reduction measures at least 80 percent as costly as ours.
This is the Smoot-Hawley redux that will bring on the Obama Depression
Kirk W. Hanneman (22:27:18) :
“What moron would vote for such a bill?”
“Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.” — Mark Twain
I am in Waxman’s district. I wanted to vote against him but he was the only name on the ballot. My only option was to abstain. I wonder what chance someone else would have if they ran. I would have voted for another candidate just because he wasn’t Waxman.
REPLY: Get busy down there then finding an alternate.
Al Gore cancels appearance on the hill. Pelosi finally realized flying in the VP to rally against CO2 was stupid, damn they are learning the ropes, because it would open the VP up to criticism regarding his big fat …. footprint.
She is a cagey old bird.
wws (05:52:44) :
“You writing to your congressman should be a felony? ‘Cuz that’s lobbying. And how about Anthony telling people to write their congressmen? Because that’s lobbying too.”
I personally will not liken individual citizens who call their representatives to express their opinions, to the career lobbyists that are paid to meet the same representatives personally, bride and bully them to vote in a particular way, and even at times get involved in drafting bills.
That said, if the Congress does follow the Constitution, there will be no room for lobbying, and no need for citizens to call in and tell them what they can or cannot do.
It looks to me, on page 245, that they have added a clause requiring companies using the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to pay the “prevailing wage” for the project. Won’t this greatly increase the cost of the project using this program, since I understand the usual interpretation of “prevailing wage” is the union wage?
There are a lot of companies trying to build nuclear power plants using Title XVII loan guarantee. I suspect the new prevailing wage clause will gut that.
It ain’t over ’til the dumb lady grins!
Meanwhile, the Obama administration will still be trying to achieve the same objectives through EPA regulation of “toxic” CO2.
Exactly.
Like the Federal Income Tax, eh?
I asked my Senator not to support the bill and here was his answer:
Dear Mr. Urbanski:
Thank you for contacting me regarding cap-and-trade legislation.
I am interested in cap-and-trade programs because they would let the market, not the government, dictate how to lower harmful emissions. I believe that we have the technology and ability to meet the challenge of climate change in a way that will provide new economic opportunities and make us more competitive internationally while protecting consumers from high energy prices and breaking our dependence on oil.
Global warming threatens Florida’s fragile ecosystem and $56 billion tourism industry. Rising sea levels will encroach on Florida’s pristine beaches and harm coastal wetlands and the Everglades. Increased carbon dioxide and water temperatures will damage sensitive coral reefs and endanger Florida’s diverse marine species. A scientific study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded with 90 percent certainty that global warming is caused by the accumulation of man-made greenhouse gasses.
I will continue to work in the Senate to fight the effects of global warming. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me, and I respect your views. Please feel free to regarding any additional issues of concern.
Sincerely,
Senator Bill Nelson
Have we had enough of this nonsense already?
God, I am so sick of hearing/seeing The Big “O”, Pelosi, Reid and the rest of these maniacs that are trying to micromanage my life, regarding this topic and numerous others…….stealing more of my money and liberty.
My Congress “Person” is no help as she is a Obama sychophant as are my Senators.
Get out there and tell your friends/family and neighbors what this is all about and get involved politically. We have to get these buffoons out of government.
The latest version is predicted by the EPA to cause there to be less renewable energy by 2020 than business as usual!
I spoke to my blue dog democrat congressperson (Parker Griffiths, Ala 5) and he has pledged to vote against it.
There was a report on this by the BBCs newsnight program yesterday if anyone is interested
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ldvby
It starts about 12 minutes in with the final report from the BBCs ethical man (Justin Rowlatt) who’s been journeying around the USA.
mkurbo, it seems your letter to Senator Nelson fell on deaf ears. The fix is in, and nothing short of a revolution is going to stop King Obama from attaining his goals.
mkurbo (11:16:12) :
Oh dear. Your senator has been brainwashed to beyond a point of irreversibility.
I haven’t heard back from any of my representatives and I requested a response. And you would think that they, if on the CO2 side, would appreciate my attempt to bypass the noxious spewing of pollutants by avoiding snail mail in preference to the much more green email system of communication.
Addendum,
I just got an email response from Senator Merkley of Oregon. The letter read like one primarily made of macro single key stroke talking points. I was unimpressed. He did not speak to the questionable science behind the political movement and he did not state his personal opinion of said science. As of this moment, I am deeply concerned over, apologize for, and embarrassed of my political party.
OT… Have you heard something about and interference of the US government into the American citizens’ private lives? I do not remember exactly, perhaps it was yesterday or the day before yesterday, when I read from a newspaper that some federal agencies were looking for the approval of an initiative which would permit them to interfere your phone calls and other private, very private, activities. Here, in Mexico, the federal government is pushing to active mobile phones users to register their mobile phone line(s) including the name of the owner or user, address, ID number and Single Population Registration Code (CURP in Spanish), before June 30th. We don’t know what the purpose of this obligation could be, but it doesn’t smell nice.
So President Obama is hosting a luau tonite for 2200 congress critters…
Seems strange on the eve of a carbon reduction bill to fly in Hawaiian fire-knife dancers and 20 musicians and other dancers from throughout Hawaii. Flying in a top Hawaiin chef (Wong).
And flying up to D.C. with Wong, from Hawaii:
• 70 lbs. of hearts of palm, from Wailea Agricultural Group, Big Island of Hawaii
• 35 lbs. of chevre (goat cheese) from Hawaii Island Goat Dairy, Honokaa, Big Island of Hawaii
• 216 lbs. of mushrooms (50% eryngi, 50% hon-shimeji), from Hamakua Mushrooms, Big Island of Hawaii
• 44 lbs. of chocolate, from Waialua Estate Chocolate, Oahu
• 3 gallons of ko choo jang sauce, from Park’s Brand, Oahu
• 35 lbs. of white miso, from Maru-Hi, Oahu
• 84 lbs. of macadamia nuts
• 130 lbs. of salted salmon (now we’re all but confirming lomi salmon)
• 60 lbs. of pipi kaula
• 4 lbs. of Hawaii-grown chili peppers
I am so proud of our President and Congress…
Al Gore cancels appearance on the hill.
It would look pretty bad to bring in a “green venture capitalist” to lobby for the passage.
We’ve been thru the S&L adventure, the dot-com run up, Y2K, subprime/Alt-A/Option-A loan mess and now the “carbon tax” (AKA Global Warming/AGW/cap-n-trade). Each and every one of these government FUBARs was intended to extract money from the masses and give it to the friends of the politicians.
Always remember that the last “global consensus” was that Iraq had “stockpiles of WMD” and it was “all wrong”. Now we have a new “global consensus” which also appears, in so many ways that it’s hard to count, to be “all wrong”