| Jamie Dupree |
Cap and Trade Senate Side
The battle over Cap and Trade/climate change legislation officially moves to the Senate today, as a key committee there begins hearings on the bill approved by the House in late June.
Again, if you want to download the House bill, to look at it yourself, then here is your link: http://is.gd/1omP8
The text of that over 14-hundred page bill will be a starting point for Senators, as they try to fashion a measure that can make it through the Senate, just one reason why I have been digging through it after it was approved in the House.
Some of you have been nice enough to plow through parts of the bill looking for various nuggets that might make you shake your head in disbelief.
Josh Fahey found provisions on "Watersense," in the bill that had caught my eye as well, basically an effort at water conservation.
Section 215 of the House passed bill would establish a new office in the Environmental Protection Agency, "to identify and promote water efficient products, buildings and landscapes."
That would be accomplished with, as Josh pointed out, labels (like the Energy Star label) that tell consumers which products get the thumbs up from the feds on water and energy conservation.
The bill authorizes $7.5 million to start the program, and then after a few years, envisions a steady $50 million a year funding level, which would be adjusted for inflation in the future.
Meanwhile, Adam noted Section 754, "Requirements for International Deforestation Reduction Program," worried that it will be "sending our borrowed money overseas."
I wondered that too, but after reading some really confusing legislative language in that section, it doesn't seem like the bill does anything more than offer moral support for existing programs to help developing nations avoid deforestation, as no money is diverted for such actions.
But there is a fund that would send some money overseas in another section, as Jerry found the "Stratospheric Ozone and Climate Protection Fund" on page 1005.
That allows for US contributions to multilateral funds that deal with global warming.
Now how about what is not in the bill.
Tom checked in by saying that there is $86 million for a new polar icebreaker. But my review of the bill doesn't show that. It's been talked about a lot, but you're going to have show me what page before I agree it's in there.
As for what else I have stumbled on in this bill, I decided to again look today for bureaucratic additions that are made by this legislation.
On page 776, Section 731 establishes the "Offsets Integrity Advisory Board," which will be an independent panel within the EPA, with the job of "ensuring the overall environmental integrity of the programs established pursuant to those regulations."
The board will have nine members, who have to be fairly well versed in the climate change field according to the bill.
But while I was trying to figure out the job of that board, I stumbled upon another part of the bill, Section 464, entitled "Advisory Board."
This section sets up another advisory panel between 10 and 20 members, whose job it is to "provide scientific and technical advice and recommendations" on how climate change impacts the US and the world.
Oddly enough, this advisory board would be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Then on p. 1328, I found another advisory board, also between 10 and 20 members, which would be appointed by the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior, to give advice on how climate change affects ocean acidification
Nowhere in any of those sections was it clear how much money could be spent on those "Advisory Boards," not even a "such sums" as may be necessary.
It's just more of the fine print already approved by the House, much of which may find its way into the Senate version of the Cap and Trade legislation.
What others are saying
- Cap and TradeI contacted my Senator Mel Martinez here in Fl. Seems he has drank the kool-aid as well. but what does he care. He is not running again. I have to honestly think no one reads these things.
- Cap and Trade is tax on AirWhy not Nuclear and Natural Gas? Cheaper? Cleaner? Oh, wait... this bill isn't about climate change at all...
- Clean NuclearAs for the decommissioned nuclear submarine reactors, as per the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the defueled cores are stored at the Hanford Site in WA [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/eng/reactor.html]. Could these cores be reused for electrical power production with minimal costs and zero carbon emissions? The Liberal chant of, 'Reduce, reuse, recycle,' would be put into practice to benefit all. But it's nuclear,...nuclear BAD!
- I emailed my Senators here in CTBoth are in support of this hogwash. One, Joe Lieberman even goes as far as replying with the lie of "Unanimous Scientific Community Support" that man made global warming is occurring. The inmates are running the asylum in Washington D.C.
- Cap and TradeI had written both GA senators and my rep. Like Mac, I receive a lukewarm response from Chambliss to which I followed-up that he might want to consider a more firm position or he will run the risk he took when he initially supported the imigration postion of Dems back in 2007. Heard nothing since.
- Nuclear EngergyThink about this, we build submarines powered by nuclear reactors. We send these things all over the world, even under the polar ice cap. We don't have them blowing up every day, or even once. They provide enough electricy to power a small city. Therefore, we should be building nuclear reactor power plants in every city in America.
- @MacI did the same and received the same...
I still think it is worthwhile for everyone to email them. If you are in GA:
You can email Johnny Isakson here: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm
You can email Saxby Chambliss here: http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm - cap and tradeI wrote Sen.Chambliss about my opposition. He replied and mentioned nuclear energy. I replied and told him I supported development of nuclear energy.
- $86 Polar IceBreakerI have a question. If the polar ice caps are supposedly melting due to global warming, why would we want to spend money to break up what ice is left?
- Cap and Tax and Spend MoreJamie:
I have contacted my U.S. Senators from Georgia and confirmed that they are voting against this theft. - Senate feedbackJamie, I sent emails to both of the Senators in my state (Georgia). Passing along a few grievances, including the cost of Cap & Trade. I also suggested that reading and understanding the entire bill was probably not going to happen. I received form letters from both, stating limited support for Cap & Trade and minimizing our dependence on foreign oil. Ah well, I tried.
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