Politics may kill cap and trade bill
Emerson Lynn Jr.
Monday, August 24, 2009
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS of the Kansas congressional delegation said Aug. 17 that the “cap and trade” proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would put a costly burden on the Midwest where most of the electricity used is generated by coal-fired plants.
Speaking at the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association convention in Wichita, Rep. Jerry Moran, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said, “there is no more devastating piece of legislation for rural America, for the Midwest, for agriculture, for farmers and for small business than this piece of legislation at a time like this economy — bar none.”
He was joined in opposing the administration’s proposal by Sen. Sam Brownback, a candidate for governor, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who is also seeking Brownback’s Senate seat, and Rep. Lynn Jenkins. Sen. Pat Roberts apparently did not attend. He won’t be up for re-election until 2014.
The bill has passed the House but faces stiff opposition in the Senate.
None of the Kansas opponents of the cap and trade bill offered an alternative way to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists say are causing global warming at an increasing rate. The increase in the atmosphere’s temperature is melting the Earth’s ice fields at the poles, raising ocean levels and causing climate changes.
Brownback said Kansas City Power & Light has projected a 37 percent increase in electric rates by 2013 if the measure passes.
The legislation proposed would require utilities and other users of coal to pay for permission to burn the fuel and emit the gases. It would result in a higher price for the electricity produced to encourage utilities to turn to wind, solar and other non-polluting sources of electrical energy.
An alternative to cap and trade would be a direct tax on carbon, a simpler way to accomplish the same result.
There probably isn’t a painless way to reduce the rate of global warming — and politicians hate to cause pain. They most particularly hate to cause pain in the immediate future in order to achieve a far-off goal; a goal that most certainly can’t be reached before the next election that affects them. So many choose to ignore the problem or support non-painful, ineffective alternatives.
Prospects for reversing global warming are grim indeed.
shoehorn (anonymous) says...
Observation, I am sure that when those that believe in anthropogenic, co2 induced global warming (climate change?) check out your link, they will utter those words made famous by our leader, the enlightened one, "they're just makin' stuff up"
August 24, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dale011 (anonymous) says...
Carbon Dioxide is 1/3 of 1% of the atmosphere, and plants need it for photosynthesis. Greedy bums need it to make more money from us, and the tree huggers need it to control our lives. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but algore and his cronies have made enough money riding this dead horse. Notice that it is no longer global warming (because that is incorrect because we are cooling) so now it is climate change these loonies want to protect us from. Puhleese, leave me alone and go back under the rock that you crawled out from under. We have serious problems now that the socialist democrats control our government, but carbon dioxide pollution is not one of them. Especially if China and India thumb their noses at the concept because the carbon tax will destroy industries through heavy taxation. I applaud any member of congress that says no to this debacle.
August 24, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
China and India reject Carbon Caps......
http://www.thebreakthrough.org/blog/2...
And being 1/3 of the world's population between the 2 of them, and rapidly growing/modernizing/industrializing, etc...... it is absolutely pointless to do anything without them signing on as well. They can easily negate any effect we would have overall.
And China has already warned the US passing this could set off a global trade war........ and since they basically own us, lock stock and barrel (or will soon if Obama continues to have his way) - we need to pay attention to what our new masters tell us to do.....
August 24, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MsLawrence (anonymous) says...
just for your information Emerson....Senator Roberts was not in attendance due to the fact he has pneumonia. Check your resources or look in to why someone is not in attendance just because he's not up for re-election.
August 24, 2009 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Cap and Trade will be the biggest tax increase in history. Go to You Tube cap and trade.
August 24, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Rumor has it that Obama has not been at the White House for several days now. How about it, Emerson? Is it because he's not up for re-election..... or is he just a slacker? LOLOL
August 24, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Warren Buffett said, "Cap and Trade is a REGRESSIVE TAX on all Americans. Go to utube.
August 24, 2009 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
Ya know, I think the whole argument is political BS.
When Al Gore did his "Live Earth" concerts to raise awareness for global warming/climate change (whichever it is now), he put out a list of ten ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Number 7 was instead of buying CD's, you should purchase your music online, because this reduces the amount CO2 put out by your CD's being shipped. What was NOT mentioned was that Al Gore sits on the board of directors of a certain company called Apple, which might have a LITTLE something to gain from people purchasing music online.
It's all political BS.
August 24, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Gore's made $100 million pushing it so far.......... if this passes, he stands to make billions..... do some research........ connect the dots..........
August 24, 2009 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
By the way,
"The legislation proposed would require utilities and other users of coal to pay for permission to burn the fuel and emit the gases. It would result in a higher price for the electricity produced to encourage utilities to turn to wind, solar and other non-polluting sources of electrical energy."
Emerson, you moron! You can't replace coal power with wind energy. Let me give you a quick education about the power grid, since obviously you don't have a fricking clue.
There are 2 basic types of generating plants. Base load and variable load. Base load plants are generally coal and nuclear plants (sometimes hydro, depending). These plants generate basically the same amount of power everyday, regardless of draw.
Variable load plants can have the output (or amount of power taken from) greatly varied, hence the name. Examples of these are natural gas generators, wind farms, solar, geothermal, etc.
In cases of high demand, more power is drawn from variable loads to meet the demand.
You cannot have an intelligent debate as to whether we should have more coal plants or more wind farms. Having that debate is essentially the same as debating whether a car should have an engine or a transmission. It needs both.
Now a debate between wind farms and gas generators is another story, but trying to debate between wind and coal shows your obvious lack of education regarding the matter.
August 24, 2009 at 10:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
A recent study found that a satellite designed to pinpoint the source of C02 emissions made a startling find. After laser pinpointing the biggest source of emissions, they located the biggest source inside the chambers of the United States Congress while they were in session.
Go figure. I sure can figure out a quick way to reduce the emissions.
August 25, 2009 at 12:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kevin35 (anonymous) says...
The word pain doesn't even begin to describe the devastating impacts this legislation will have on America. Especially when you consider that research suggests it is impossible for the bill to achieve it's climate change goals. Americans need to let Congress know the negative impact this bill will have at http://tinyurl.com/klfut8.
September 3, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )