Saturday, November 7, 2009

Opinion

Michael Barone

Energy Needs at Home Trump Cap-and-Trade Political Points for Senate Democrats

April 03, 2009 02:30 PM ET | Michael Barone | Permanent Link | Print

By Michael Barone, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Last week I wrote a blogpost on cap-and-trade, pointing out that many Democratic senators had a political motive to oppose such a measure: Their states get most of their electricity from coal, and so cap-and-trade would raise their constituents' utility rates disproportionately to other states. This week the Senate voted on whether to include cap-and-trade in the budget resolution and, guess what 26 Democrats voted against doing so. You read it here first.

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Tags: Democrats | energy policy | politics | Senate | energy

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Reader Comments

Cap&Trade

Senate Democrats will be developing nervous tics and hyperven-

tilation attacks as this Cap&Trade monstrosity nears a vote.

As a conservative, I love the smell of fear in the morning

in the liberal bastions. Flop-sweat on Obama's forehead

will make my day. I believe in governmental change in response

to evolving realities. I do NOT believe in the wholesale

destruction of America in an attempt to "save" it. This

administration is too radical and too smug for the times.

He who governs with the concept of "Czars" must think himself

an emperor.... a guy you need to keep an eye on.

Energy independence

Raising the gas tax would help reduce Asthma, Rebuild roads, bridges, highways, and mass transit systems. and reward fuel-efficient cars.

(U.S. cars consume twice as much fuel as European and Japanese cars)

@ the same time reducing our dependence on foreign oil, sounds difficult but this is what needs to be done.

PS. Eliminate the gas tax if oil goes above $100 a barel.

A Conservative approach

I keep hearing all the whining about a "green" economy and your "carbon footprint". I believe that good, self-reliant Americans can be green if it's really important.

I personally have never owned a car that got less than 20mpg average, my house was built with 6in walls and major insulation, I've installed the highest effeciency appliances available, double pane windows, flouresent lighting, buy natural cleaning products, recycle, etc.

We don't need (or can afford) an energy tax that we ALL KNOW will be simply passed to the consumer when our economy is in the tank already. The rich won't care but it will REALLY stick the poor and middle class.

And I'm one of those mean,nasty "conservatives" that drove a 30mpg car in the 70's and built an energy effecient home in the 80's. Don't need the government to tell me it's SMART.

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Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

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