Waxman’s climate policy good for lobbyists, bad for US consumers

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is pushing his climate change agenda with assistance from industry titans An article at CNN (Apr. 22) said, "Plants absorbed carbon dioxide more efficiently under polluted skies than they would have done in a cleaner atmosphere, according to new findings published this week in Nature magazine." My roses seem to be getting plenty of whatever they need, producing a number of record blooms this spring. like Duke Energy Corp. and Gorian alarmist proponents. Remember the good old days when everything was the Republicans’ fault? The Washington Times offers a bit of nostalgia: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman, both of California, were among the Democrats -- then in the minority -- who slammed Vice President Dick Cheney for holding closed-door meetings to draft energy policy early in the Bush administration.” But the newspaper explains Waxman allowed select lobbyists to help craft energy legislation. The GOP’s yesteryear is the Dems’ today.

On April 24, the GOP had lined up a well-known expert on climate change; Waxman wouldn’t let him testify during the hearings. And that led to a telling exchange, little reported by pomp media, between former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Waxman, wherein Waxman said the government would have to use “threats” to get Americans in line on climate change policy.

Climate changes with political winds
If you’re not a kid, you’ll remember when we were told we were going to freeze to death (Ice Age) and then we were told we were going to cook like a piece of salmon on a grill (Global Warming). Then the Environmental Protection Agency realized the political error of its ways and settled on the latest fashionable term, climate change. Duh. Talk about a no-brainer. The climate’s been changing since we woke up in caves and went forth in search of nuts and berries.

It’s obvious the alarmists refuse to listen to anyone who disagrees with group think. Many scientists have jumped aboard the cause, not the least of which is an abundance of federal and private money for grants that fund work guaranteed to backdoor proof of Gorian theories.

Take the climate change quiz
How much do you really know about climate change? The Australian Climate Science Coalition has a really interesting quiz where you can test your knowledge of the facts. The quiz is non-political and it is a real eye-opener.

Waxman, chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee, and his colleagues are not telling the American people the size of the penalty we will pay if the Democratic congressman has his way. Every American will pay the price. According to The Tax Foundation, “The budget estimates that the sale of permits to pollute will bring in roughly $645 billion by 2019, laying to rest Obama’s claim that 95 percent of the country will not see their taxes increase. This $645 billion will come from the pockets of anyone that flips a light switch, drives a car, or uses a stove -- in effect, everyone.” Repeat after me: Cap and Trade equals a tax.

And if you’re on the “let’s bury our carbon emissions” bandwagon, you might want to re-think that approach. Even some proponents have concern. The website Earth Day admits, “Although carbon dioxide is usually harmless, a large, rapid release of the gas is worrisome because high concentrations can kill.” The Wall Street Journal reported a protest in the Netherlands when Royal Dutch Shell wanted to bury carbon dioxide under the town of Barendrecht. RDS wanted to pump the CO2 into “nearly exhausted gas fields.” The good citizens of Barendrecht weren’t too wild about that. [Apr. 21, 2009, B-3 print edition]

Needed: Full disclosure for Americans
The government owes you full disclosure on legislation that will affect every aspect of your life. Until facts trump politics, you’re not going to get the truth and as long as Waxman’s in charge, you can count on policies that are definitely not friendly to your average working American, but instead, cater to special interests who stand to benefit financially from Democratic policy on the environment. Repeat after me: cap and trade equals a tax.