By Paul Chesser on 6.26.09 @ 4:54PM
That's what's driving everyone who is pushing the passage of the
cap-and-trade bill, from Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, to Al Gore,
to Nancy Pelosi, to the president.
That's what's driving everyone who is pushing the passage of the
cap-and-trade bill, from Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, to Al Gore,
to Nancy Pelosi, to the president. Witness this from Myron Ebell,
of the Competitive Enterprise
Institute:
For those not able to watch the circus on the House, the
last fifteen minutes have been priceless. Rep. Louie Gohmert
made a parliamentary enquiry about where he could find a copy
of the 309 pages that were added to the bill at 2:49 AM. The
chairman hemmed and hawed and finally said that she didn’t
know. Then Rep. Joe Barton made a parliamentary enquiry about
whether there was a rule of the House that a copy of the bill
on the floor had to be available. The chairman said that she
was not aware of such a rule.
Then after some more attempts to make enquiries about where
a copy of the 309 pages could be consulted, Rep. Edward Markey
disdainfully explained to his inferiors that a copy was in
plain sight at the Clerk’s desk and was available on the web
site. Then Rep. Barton pointed out that the copy available at
the desk was the 1201 pages and a separate pile with the 309
pages of which the clerk was trying to insert the various
pieces into their correct places in the 1201 pages. He inquired
whether this was an official copy. The chair said that yes “in
effect” it was. Hundreds of members rushed to the Clerk’s desk
to read the 309 pages.
No, I made that up. Vote first, find out what you’ve voted
on later.
And in a report
today by the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, there's
this from Obama's Energy Secretary, Steven Chu:
Everyone agrees this cap-and-trade concept will lead to
higher electric bills and gasoline prices. How much varies by
source.
Chu said recent studies by two agencies - the Congressional
Budget Office and the Environmental Protection Agency - equated
the extra cost to about $240 a year for the typical
family.
"This is not a lot of money," he said.
These estimates are widely challenged, but even if they are
right, I wonder if -- since $240 isn't a lot of money -- the
secretary wouldn't mind covering my vehicle fuel next month?
topics:
Global Warming, Steven Chu
