Bond, rural Mo utils blast cap-and-trade bill
Bond today with petitions
WASHINGTON – Those piles of yellow notices dumped on Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond’s desk today weren’t parking tickets, althought yellow is the color of violations dispensed on Capitol Hill.
They were 30,000 petitions gathered by the Missouri Association of Electric Cooperatives urging Bond, R-Mo., to oppose present versions of cap-and-trade legislation to combat global warming as Congress gets ready to see a new bill this week.
Given Bond’s stalwart opposition to cap-and-trade bills out there now, they might have skipped the postcards and saved a few trees.
He’s been among the most vocal senators regarding the impact of climate change legislation on coal-burning states like Missouri, and he can be expected to continue that role as new action begins.
“I think certain people pushing this bill see me as one of the biggest thorns in their sides. If they don’t now, they will,” said Bond, who was on hand to receive the postcards.
The argument from Bond and his allies goes something like this: The Midwest, which relies heavily on coal, would suffer a disproportionate burden from the climate change legislation passed by the House.
Bond, unlike some Midwestern Republicans, isn’t counted among the global warming deniers. He says scientists should continue to evaluate what is happening but acknowledges that climate is changing and says: “I think we all agree that we ought to reduce emissions.”
It’s how — and who — reduces emissions of climate warming-gases that will be sorted out in Congress and, potentially, in Copenhagen in December when the United States and nations from around the world gather with the aim of writing a global treaty to curb climate change.
The House already has passed legislation that Missouri utilities say would lead to increases in electric bills anywhere from 12 percent to 26 percent by 2012. It should be noted that the Missouri utilities aren’t delivering a “just say no” message. Rather, they’re encouraging Bond and others to get the best deal they can in legislation.
On Wednesday, with health-care legislation hanging fire, Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and John Kerry, D-Mass., will file new climate change legislation that will be the basis for Senate negotiations and, potentially, lead to a conference with the House to write a final version.
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Kit Bond has one thing right: Missouri suffers disproportionately because of our use of coal. That’s exactly why we should be supporting a clean energy bill. Coal already costs more than we can afford–we lose millions of dollars through decreased property values, lost tourist revenues, slurry cleanup, and health bills. And Missouri does have clean energy capacity. This state’s clean energy industry already has 5.4% job growth and has generated over 11,000 jobs; if we pass the clean energy bill, it’s estimated that Missouri would gain almost 36,000 new jobs.
As for utility costs, the clean energy bill includes allowances for power companies to prevent them from having to raise consumer prices while they make the transition to cleaner fuel sources. And many regional and national energy companies, like Duke Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric, are calling for a carbon cap bill, because they know that their revenues don’t have to go down if they invest in clean energy.
If he wants to support Missouri’s economy and public health, Kit Bond should reconsider his position on this legislation. And let’s hope Claire McCaskill chooses wisely by voting to pass a carbon cap in the Senate this fall.
The problem with cap and trade legislation, as it stands, is that it will do little to actually improve the state of the environment. It is for this reason that even environmental groups have come out against it. What it will do is raise our energy bills and cost millions of jobs. Write Congress to voice opposition to cap and trade at http://tiny.cc/pxIgi.
Please read the bill - it’s not just coal. $4.00 gas, having to bring your house up to (undefined) green standards before you can sell it (that will really help first-time home buyers, no more “fixer-uppers”) and NO new refining, drilling or production of gas and oil. The bill has lots of major problems.
I agree with Worried - one and a half pages devoted to nuclear energy, but over 20 pages on how we should change lightbulbs in our homes. No one wants to harm our environment, but lets have alternatives in place before we price ourselves out of the energy market. That, or we just go ahead and start shipping all manufacturing jobs over to China, which will have a huge advantage.
Marie,
I’d be really curious where these 11,000 clean energy jobs are in Missouri. You can’t possibly believe that. How about some sources. And yes, there might be a change of 36,000 jobs in Missouri after cap and trade passes, but it will be jobs LOST.
Timing is everything. With our nation in the throes of a major recession, it makes no sense whatsoever to implement an act that raises the price of energy. Families all across our great nation are struggling to make ends meet as our jobs are farmed out to foreign countries. Senators, Congressmen, and lawmakers through out the land must see this, recognize this, and accept it for what it is. For the People, By the people, Of the people, needs to mean something again! Kill the cap and trade bill before it makes it to the floor.