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Waxman-Markey Climate Bill – You Can Make a Difference!

Action time is now! The U. S. House Committee on Energy and the Environment will be considering The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (Waxman-Markey) within the next week. This is a package deal that combines CO2 cap and trade, energy efficiency and renewable energy among other items. They are trying to rush this bill through quickly because they know that a large majority of Americans will be strongly against at least the cap and trade portion due the increased costs to the average American family. The Coalition for Affordable American Energy estimates that the proposed bill will increase costs to the average family by $1,400 per year and also lead to as many as 1.9 million job losses.

This program will require businesses that produce CO2 to pay a tax, which MIT has estimated would generate $366 billion in revenues to the Federal government. Mr. Obama admitted during his campaign that the costs of this program of cap and trade will be high: “Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlTxGHn4sH4

In addition to the onerous cap and trade provisions, other items to be established:
• Require that renewable energy (re: uneconomic) provide at least 25% of the nation’s needs by 2025
• An unrealistic program for carbon capture and sequestration (Michael Economides estimates that this would require the drilling of more than 300,000 new wells) http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=826
• A new entitlement program to assist workers making less than $75,000/year to pay for the increases in energy costs
• Mandate improved efficiency of existing buildings

Read more on the economic impact of Waxman-Markey at http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/wm2438.cfm

We need you to contact your Members of Congress today and tell them to vote against this!
• Locate your Congressman’s email and phone at
• http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ (just type in your zip code) or
• https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Below are some samples for use – note that the first three are directed at a Congressman that you know is inclined to vote for the legislation:

Dear Representative __________,

It is my understanding that Waxman-Markey Climate legislation is before you now or will in the near future be brought before Congress. I urge you to carefully consider the adverse impact to our Congressional district and all of Pennsylvania.

It is unreasonable to ask the poorest among us to pay higher cost for utilities and everything purchased (for the cost will be passed along) to generate additional revenues. In addition to higher living cost, our area will suffer a significant loss of economic activity including jobs as private investment seeks less expensive areas to open and operate businesses.

Dear Representative ___________,

It is my understanding that Waxman-Markey Climate legislation is before you now or will in the near future be brought before Congress. This legislation will have an adverse impact on our Congressional district and all of Pennsylvania. Our natural resources include coal and natural gas. Why would you vote to put us at a disadvantage to other areas of the country and to other nations?

It is unjustifiable to ask Americans to pay higher cost for utilities and everything we purchase that will be affected by this tax. It is unjustifiable to vote for legislation that will move more of the world’s production to higher polluting countries. This is not good for our economy, standard of living, and only creates more global pollution. How can you possibly support more expensive energy, less jobs, and more pollution? This legislation is flawed on every account.

Dear Representative ________

It is my understanding that Waxman-Markey Climate legislation is before or will in the near future be brought before Congress.

Why would you even consider punishing Pennsylvanians with higher energy bills? Our region contains significant energy resources that can be used to renew our area but this legislation will do the opposite. Why the vote against coal? Why would you vote to disadvantage our local economy and the life styles of our citizens? Why would you consider raising taxes on energy companies and mandating so-called renewable sources that are not available at the mandated level in all of Pennsylvania? Why would you support an energy policy that is unfriendly to our area? Do you not understand that when you tax something you get less of it at a higher cost? You campaigned against high gas and energy cost. Have you changed your mind?

Dear Representative _______,

I am deeply concerned that the House Committee on Energy and the Environment is rushing to vote on the Waxman-Markey climate legislation without even waiting for the Department of Energy to complete its standard review. That is no way for Congress to act on such important policy. I urge you to oppose this legislation until Congress commits to a more reasoned approach. It's clear that, if Members of Congress support this legislation in its current form, consumers will end up paying higher energy prices because of it, and our nation's energy security could be jeopardized.

As it is now written, the Waxman-Markey climate bill has serious flaws. Its provisions are heavily weighted against oil and natural gas and could lead to far higher energy costs than we see today. In a recession, the last thing we need is for energy prices to go even higher.

Our nation needs reliable, low-cost energy if we are to make a complete and timely economic recovery. The Waxman-Markey climate bill would jeopardize this goal and could hurt consumers at a time when we can least afford it.

Please oppose the Waxman-Markey climate bill until its potential impacts are more thoroughly understood.

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