House passes biggest tax increase in history w/o reading the bill

[blue fluff]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today strongly opposed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) national energy tax and the impact it would have on middle-class families and small businesses across the country. Boehner earlier spoke on the House floor in a marathon, hour-long speech in which he read portions of the legislation to underscore its real consequences for American jobs and the economy. Following is Boehner’s statement on the legislation:

“Today, in what will be remembered as the defining vote of the 111th Congress, House Democrats passed a 1,500-page national energy tax bill that no one even had the chance to read. The American people have the right to know what is in this legislation and, more importantly, what impact it will have on middle-class families and small businesses. In just an hour, we raised serious questions about the true consequences of this legislation for Americans’ jobs and all of our economy.

“Speaker Pelosi’s national energy tax is a bureaucratic nightmare that will cost families more than ever for electricity, gasoline, food, and other products, and cost millions of American workers their jobs. This is a tax on anyone who drives a car, buys an American-made product, or flips on a light switch. It will drive up energy costs, send millions of jobs overseas to countries like China and India, and place an especially heavy burden on rural America. Republicans believe there is a better way. Our American Energy Act is the fastest route to a cleaner, more reliable energy future. By increasing environmentally-safe energy production, promoting alternatives like nuclear and clean-coal technologies, and encouraging increased efficiency, this alternative legislation will create more jobs, lower energy costs, and clean up our air and water.

“There’s a big difference between the heartland and San Francisco when it comes to Speaker Pelosi’s national energy tax. Today, House Democrats made the decision to stand with left-wing special interests rather than with families and small businesses in their districts that will lose so much because of this national energy tax. The American people will not forget this vote.”

Here's a link to see how they voted.
http://www.americansolutions.com/energytax/2009/06/the-energy-tax-how-they-voted.php

Here's a link saying how Waxman added 300 pages to the bill at 3 a.m.
http://www.americansolutions.com/energy/2009/06/waxman-adds-300-pages-to-energy-tax-at-3am.php

This is what they just voted for:
1. Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent.
2. Raise electricity rates 90% after adjusting for inflation.
3. Raise the cost of living of a typical household by $1,600 a year.
4. Raise residential natural gas prices by 55%.
5. Destroy 1-3 million jobs per year, every year until 2035.

44 Democrats stood AGAINST Pelosi, 8 "Republicans" voted WITH her.

 

[Dano702]

So this is "Cap and Trade " ? We are so screwed ,the libs are really getting after it . Sen. Harry Reid is a discrace to the great state of Nevada , and we will forever owe the people for unleashing this monster unto the nation!

 

[Ollie]

It still has to pass the senate.
Once the word gets out about this and the public outrage that has already started, it will be dead on arrival in the senate.

The house is much easier to control for the dems.
This will be political suicide to pass.


Heres my take.

The Dems are in a binde in a big way.
They have to placate the people that put them in office. They know they have overreached with all this BS they are and have been passing.

The house passes the bill.
The senate kills it.

The dems get to stand up and claim they tried and they get to hammer the republicans for being the party of "NO" and enviromentally bankrupt.

Obama doesn't have to sign it or do anything with it so he gets to keep flying the enviromental banner.
The dems don't have to worry about it in 2010 since no one ever remembers bills that DON'T pass, but the dems still get to keep the enviromental vote.

Man I hope I am right.

 

[shortstop20]

Herseth Sandlin(my Rep) voted against it, good on her.

 

[blue fluff]

Cap and Trade rules/regs and costs per CBO (Congressional Budget Office)
(brackets/bolding mine)

SUMMARY
H.R. 2454 would make a number of changes in energy and environmental policies largely
aimed at reducing emissions of gases that contribute to global warming. [there is no global
warming! the earth's temps have flatlined since 2001 despite an increase in CO2 emissions. Over 700 scientists are skeptical -- 13 times the # of scientists who wrote the "consensus"]
The bill would limit or cap the quantity of certain greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted from facilities that generate electricity and from other industrial activities over the 2012-2050 period. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [EPA suppresses evidence that proves there is no
global warming] would establish two separate regulatory initiatives known as cap-and-trade programs—one covering emissions of most types of GHGs and one covering hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). EPA would issue allowances to emit those gases under the cap-and-trade programs. Some of those allowances would be auctioned by the federal government, and the remainder would be distributed at no charge...
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/102xx/doc10262/hr2454.pdf

 

[framus]

Pissed off

Dave Riechert our idiot represenative voted yes for this back breaker. I wonder what Nancy promised him? I hope Nancy gives him an unpronoucable social disease. Filthy traitor!

Ollie, I dont share your optimisem that it will die in the senate. They are going to lean hard and promise the sky to the undecideds. If they pull this off it will end the country as we know it. I've heard some estimates of gas going up around $1.50 +. Everything else will follow. This bill IS true tyranny. Gore, Nancy and all the environmentalists want this sooo badly they can taste it, dont think for a minute that there wont be big-time pressure on the senate. Many didnt think it stood a chance in the house and it passed, there were a large number of DEMS who voted against it because it didnt go far enough in their opinion. Imagine that!

Time to go underground yet?

 

[Wade]

It didn't stand a chance, until they figured out a way to give "favored" corporations more carbon credits than they could use, that they can sell the excess to other corporations. And the kicker, move your company to China and sell the carbon credits you were using in the US. Some Big business is going to make big money off this. It's now even more profitable to move out of the country.

You won't hear any whining out of the car companies, their owned by Obama now. Whine, you get fired.

When's the war starting?

 

[blue fluff]

CBO ignored key costs of the legislation. The Heritage Foundation has an excellent summation of the problems with CBO's analysis. The most significant one is highlighted here:

"Most problematic is their complete omission of economic damage from restricting energy use. Footnote three on page four reads, 'The resource cost does not indicate the potential decrease in gross domestic product (GDP) that could result from the cap. The reduction in GDP would also include indirect general equilibrium effects, such as changes in the labor supply resulting from reductions in real wages and potential reductions in the productivity of capital and labor).' That's a pretty big chunk of change to ignore. In The Heritage Foundation's analysis of the Waxman-Markey climate change legislation, the GDP hit in 2020 was $161 billion (2009 dollars). For a family of four, that is $1,870 that they ignore."

CBO also indicates that the federal government would "incur additional costs of about $12 billion" to pay for low-income households' rebates and the energy tax credit. These costs would fall on households either through higher taxes or reduced government services. Yet again, "CBO did not distribute those costs across households."

http://www.americansolutions.com/energy/2009/06/camouflaging-the-costs-of-cap-and-trade.php

 

[Wade]

Another promise of more money for the non-working. Get those welfare people all dumb fat and happy on free money, then collapse the economy, and watch them.......

IMO the housing bubble collapse was triggered by high energy prices (gasoline), so the Dems solution to world CO2 levels is to raise energy prices. Don't these idiots see a problem here. And I'll bet you anything, CO2 emissions will increase anyways. It has in nearly every country that's tried it.

The good news is that all it takes; is congress to undo this mess in 3 years.

 

[DOO DAWG]

Sent a letter opposing it to my IDIOT and got this back........

Dear James:



Today I voted in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). This bill passed the House of Representatives 219-212. I would like to take the opportunity to explain my decision to you.



For me, this issue boils down to three words: Washington state jobs.



The American Clean Energy and Security Act is really a clean energy economic engine that will harvest American innovation to create millions of new jobs in the private sector, including family-wage manufacturing jobs that can't be shipped overseas, jobs building wind turbines and installing appliances to make homes more energy efficient, and jobs turning agricultural and forest products into clean, renewable energy.



Second, this clean energy jobs bill will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce pollution and strengthen our national security.



H.R. 2454 implements a "cap-and-trade" system to manage emissions. This means putting an economy-wide cap on carbon emissions and reducing that cap over time. Regulated entities, which would include electric utilities, transportation fuel producers, and any industrial facility that emits more than 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, would be required to have government-issued permits, called allowances, to legally pollute. Polluters would be allowed to trade these allowances with one another to ensure the most cost-effective emission reduction improvements are being made in our economy. Companies that have extra allowances can sell them. Companies that don't have enough allowances will be able to buy them on the open market or take steps to reduce their carbon emissions.



I have worked to ensure that we get the best possible clean energy jobs bill for Washington state and the 2nd Congressional District. That means a bill that works for local families worried about the high cost of paying their heating bills and filling up the gas tank; a bill that works for workers at Ferndale's Intalco plant; a bill that works for Boeing workers and contractors; a bill that works for local farmers; and a bill that works for the nearly 2,500 workers at Northwest Washington's four refineries.



During the past year, I have reached out to local clean energy companies, utilities, farmers, conservationists, local governments and small businesses, and they have all told me that comprehensive energy reform must take into account the unique attributes of the Pacific Northwest - our use of hydropower, our family farms, our energy-intensive industries and the family-wage jobs they support, and our long-standing commitment to renewable energy.



Since Congress began crafting comprehensive energy reform, we have made great progress for the 2nd District, Washington state and the Pacific Northwest. I brought local concerns to Washington, D.C. and delivered them to congressional leaders including Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Rep. Gene Green of Texas. Here are some of the local issues I have worked on in this bill. Most of them boil down to one word: jobs:



Jobs at Refineries: Local refineries in my district employ nearly 2,500 workers and contractors. Whatcom and Skagit Counties alone depend on over $200 million in wages from refineries each year. I am pleased that the American Clean Energy and Security Act provides two percent of allowances for refiners (an improvement over the zero percent we started with) and removes the unworkable low-carbon fuel standard to help protect these good-paying jobs in our community.



Jobs at Intalco: I support a provision (the Inslee-Doyle provision) to help protect jobs at Alcoa's Ferndale smelter and other energy-industries from being shipped overseas by giving them the emissions allowances they need to continue doing business here in the Unites States.



Bonneville Power Administration: In the Pacific Northwest, hydropower is the original clean, renewable energy. I have worked hard to ensure that my constituents' pocketbooks are protected in this legislation, and that Washington state is rewarded, not punished, for its long-standing use of zero-carbon electricity. I am pleased that some emissions allowances will be awarded to utilities based on how many households are served, a provision that is beneficial for our area. However, I do have concerns about the so-called "anti-windfall provision" that could have unintended consequences for utilities in the Northwest. I will work with my colleagues in the Senate to make sure the final bill includes the protections we need to help keep energy prices low for local families.



Using Washington resources for clean energy: The Pacific Northwest has an abundance of woody biomass - the trees and woody plants that are the by-products of forest management - that can be used to produce clean, renewable energy. This bill will allow the use of woody biomass for this purpose, giving the Northwest a leg up in this valuable production of energy, creating jobs and providing the Forest Service with the tools it needs for proper wildfire management.



Opportunities for local farmers: After much work over the last two weeks, this bill now rewards innovation on our local farms and opens the door for Northwest Washington farmers to make money from their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.



Aviation: In Washington state, aviation plays a huge role in our local economy. I worked to remove a provision in the American Clean Energy and Security Act that would have burdened the aviation industry with unnecessary regulation that could have hurt their business and the local jobs that depend on it.



Renewable energy efficiency standard: The legislation ensures that Washington state's renewable energy standard (I-937, which was passed by the voters of Washington state) is protected and not overruled by the proposed federal standard.



Good Wages for Labor: I am also pleased that this bill helps ensure that workers are paid a fair wage for their work by complying with Davis-Bacon rules for prevailing wages.



The American Clean Energy and Security Act will create jobs, make our local economy stronger and protect Washington state for the next generation. Thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again about this or other issues of concern for you.


Sincerely,

Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd District

 

[xrated]

Another promise of more money for the non-working. Get those welfare people all dumb fat and happy on free money, then collapse the economy, and watch them.......

IMO the housing bubble collapse was triggered by high energy prices (gasoline), so the Dems solution to world CO2 levels is to raise energy prices. Don't these idiots see a problem here. And I'll bet you anything, CO2 emissions will increase anyways. It has in nearly every country that's tried it.

The good news is that all it takes; is congress to undo this mess in 3 years.

high gas really hit me with my other bills. We jump again and it's gonna be a real tough road.

it is interesting that some evidence is out that shows North America actually being a carbon sink hole...we absorb more then we put out.

 

[Ollie]

Reid is hoping to get the job done by sept.
I think when more details of this comes out the outrage will be too much.

God I hope so.

 

[blue fluff]

Interesting viewpoint. Dick Morris (former Clinton adviser) said that those 44 Democrats who voted against Cap and Tax were pre-ordained as the most vulnerable by their party. So come re-election time they can say "I voted against it." He said the party decides to pass the bill. They then decide which of them is most vulnerable (re-election-wise) and they let them vote against their own party. So it'd be interesting to see if those 44 are all up for re-election in 2010.

This is the clip where he talks about it. It's in the first minute of play.
http://www.foxnews.com/search-resul...te-change.htm#q=hannity+dick+morris+cap+trade

 

[Wade]

This story about the EPA coverup, is growing legs.

CNet covered it.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10274412-38.html

 

[Wade]

Sent a letter opposing it to my IDIOT and got this back........

He raised the central problem with all this "green job creation" crap. If the United States is going to start punishing companies for "producing" in America, why stay here. CO2 is worldwide, it doesn't make any difference, if you put the CO2 in the air in China or Washington state. The carbon footprint of rubber dog**** manufacturing is the same whether it's made here, or there. Actually, it's probably better here, due to transportation. The difference is; there's no carbon tax in China, their exempt from Kyoto. Unless importing producers have to buy carbon credits from the product destination country, doing manufacturing overseas will be even easier to justify. And, you just sell all your unused carbon credits, to pay for the company relocation. Thank you Heil OBama.

 

[Ollie]

Looks like the republicans have decided to FINALLY start fighting back.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/boehner-climate-bill-a-pile-of-s--t-2009-06-27.html