Kerry-Boxer Bill

MEMBER INFO

What is Cap and Trade? A cap and trade system is a method for managing pollution, with the end goal of reducing the overall pollution in a nation, region, or industry. Under a cap and trade system, a government authority first sets a cap, deciding how much pollution in total will be allowed. Next, companies are issued credits, essentially licenses to pollute, based on how large they are, what industries they work in, and so forth. If a company comes in below its cap, it has extra credits which it may trade with other companies.

For companies which come in below their caps, a cap and trade system is great, because they can sell their extra credits, profiting while reducing their pollution. For companies which cannot get their pollution under control, a cap and trade system penalizes them for their excess pollution while still bringing overall pollution rates down. In a sense, the need to purchase credits acts as a fine, encouraging companies to reduce their emissions.

By creating a cap, nations make it clear that they want to reduce overall emissions. Cap and trade systems allow for flexibility. Some people view the cap and trade concept as preferable to a taxation or fining system, because it is easier to administer and it results in a pollution reduction.

Unfortunately, the recently passed U.S. House of Representatives climate bill (Waxman-Markey) is a badly flawed 1,427-page piece of legislation that will drive up the price of energy, deter American job creation and send jobs overseas and bring greater stress to a still struggling economy. And now, the Senate has introduced similar legislation—the Kerry-Boxer bill—that could have a profound impact on Americans’ everyday lives.

Like the Waxman-Markey House bill, the Kerry-Boxer bill could mean a huge new energy tax on farmers, truckers, small businesses and America’s families, and imperil millions of U.S. jobs. It is estimated (by various sources) that the average cost to an American family of this bill would be from $800-3,100, per year, forever. (When the Heritage Foundation did its analysis of Waxman-Markey, however, it found Waxman-Markey would cost the economy $161 billion in 2020, which is $1,870 for a family of four. As the bill's restrictions kick in, that number rises to $6,800 for a family of four by 2035.) Gas and diesel costs will rise dramatically; food prices will skyrocket; American jobs could be driven overseas to countries that do not limit greenhouse gas emissions and America would become more reliant on foreign sources of oil, natural gas and even refined products like gasoline.

The 15^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen December 7-18. President Obama has as much as promised the world that the United States would rejoin the international climate change treaty—regardless of the cost. His ace-in-the-hole is his "Cap & Trade" bill that he wants signed before the Copenhagen meeting. If he gets his bill, he can tell the developing nations that the U.S. has already done its part, and that he will not sign the Copenhagen agreement unless the developing nations do.

The House of Representatives approved the House Bill by only a remarkably narrow margin in June, and the Senate version already faces significant opposition. However, as noted above, Obama is demanding approval of his Cap & Trade bill so he can make a good face at Copenhagen, and the pressure is mounting.

We MUST fight to stop the Cap and Trade Bill.

Please sign and send the following fax to your elected representatives demanding they vote against the upcoming Cap & Trade legislation—or face the consequences of paying higher prices everywhere, losing jobs to the overseas markets, and becoming even more reliant on overseas sources of energy.

TEXT OF FAX

Dear [member of the Senate],

Vote NO on Kerry-Boxer and Cap & Trade.

Recently, the House voted to approve the Waxman-Markey climate bill (Cap and Trade), and the Senate version (the Kerry-Boxer bill) is now making its rounds through the Senate. How can any reasonable person in the U.S. government even consider voting approval of these bills, especially with the economic stress the average American family is now going through. Kerry and Boxer are calling their bill a Pollution Reduction and Investment program even though it does nothing to prevent or control pollution.

This is seriously flawed legislation that will:

1. Increase taxes on Americans (up to perhaps $6,800 annually)

2. Increase costs to Americans (gasoline and diesel to $4.00-plus, huge food price increases, etc.)

3. Cost Americans the loss of up to 7-million jobs over 20 years which will move overseas, and

4. Increase the dependency of America on overseas supplies of energy.

President Obama is strongly pushing for approval of this legislation before his trip to the Copenhagen Convention on Climate Change so he can show the world that America is firmly behind the international climate change treaty (wisely disapproved by two previous administrations) despite the cost to Americans.

More than half of American voters (57%) oppose this costly bill! Please stand with the American people and oppose ALL versions of the Carbon Cap and Trade Tax bills!

We, as tax-paying Americans, are asking—no, demanding—that you vote NO on this legislation which will only COST Americans and will bring them NO VALUE. The Waxman-Markey version passed the House thanks to a few traitorous Republicans.  Rest assured that come Election Day, we will NOT forget!

Protect American jobs.

Protect Americans from skyrocketing costs.

Protect America from more foreign dependence.

You MUST vote according to the wishes of the people, NOT the president’s.

Vote NO on Kerry-Boxer and Cap & Trade.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your State and District]