My comments interspersed...
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Dear Mr. Kuecker:
Many
As you may know, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane accumulate naturally in the atmosphere in order to trap heat from the sun and-similar to a greenhouse-to maintain a surface temperature that supports life. However, energy sources such as coal-fired power plants, petroleum refineries, and vehicle tailpipes are combining to release huge amounts of excess CO2 into the atmosphere, trapping too much heat and causing the climate to warm.
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CO2 and CH4 do not "accumulate" in the atmosphere - or we would all be dead now. Ever hear of homeostasis?
Contributions of CO2 by Man are minuscule compared to what Mother Gaea produces naturally. The Earth's CO2 concentration now, with all of Man's "pollution" is about one third or less of what it was during prehistoric times, when all that coal was deposited.
Don't get me started on cow and pig farts.
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A warmer climate affects us in a variety of ways. Some areas have experienced violent storms and massive flooding, while other areas have suffered drought and wildfires. Plant and animal species are threatened by changing habitats, and humans could see enormous changes in public health and quality of life. Left unchecked, climate change could have far-reaching effects on agriculture, forestry, ecosystems, water resources, and weather patterns.
It is important to note that climate and weather are distinct terms, with weather denoting a short-term snapshot of one day or week and climate referring to long-term regional average conditions. The weather may be cold or hot on any given day, but scientists have established broad consensus that, because of CO2-intensive human activities, the climate is getting warmer. Our job now is to decide what to do about it.
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Your job now is to follow the Constitution, which nowhere mandates you to legislate on a "broad consensus" that is narrowing every day, and is only still religiously believed in by nutcases such as Algore.
The only constant on our planet is change - and that includes the climate. Any reputable scientist will agree that the
Earth's climate has varied from ice ages that covered nearly all of North America with a mile of ice, to times when palm trees grew in Greenland.
Expecting to keep the climate where it is now is as futile as trying to sweep back the tide.
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Fossil fuels like coal and oil emit CO2 into the atmosphere when burned. Legislation in Congress aims to reduce these CO2 emissions through a system known as "cap-and-trade." Under cap-and-trade, the government would cap the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions from major sources of air pollution, such as power plants and oil refineries. It would then distribute a number of credits equal to the total volume of emissions allowed under the cap, which would be high at first and then gradually more stringent. Companies would purchase a quantity of credits equal to the tonnage of CO2 they emit. Companies that significantly reduce their emissions would be free to sell their excess credits to companies that are not reducing as quickly, giving polluters an economic incentive to spearhead new ways of reducing their emissions. The lowest cost strategies for reducing emissions would likely be adopted first under this approach, allowing a greater window for technological advances to help achieve reductions in areas that might be more complicated.
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Legislation now in CONgress aims to make everyone pay for living, by orders of magnitude more than we do now, in order to enrich people like Algore, GE, and other companies that stand to collect immense profits under "cap and tax". The legislation will have the effect of encouraging more CO2 production, not less, as reductions in production would result in reductions of profits.
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The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions gradually to 17% of 2005 levels by the year 2050 and requires states to get at least 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The bill establishes a cap-and-trade system under which 15% of emissions credits would be auctioned off-with the proceeds reinvested in alternative energy research-while 85% would be freely allocated.
Among the freely allocated credits, 30% of total credits would go to local electric utilities in order to cancel out any increases in consumer electricity prices. Another 13.5% would be distributed among trade-exposed manufacturing industries, such as glass, steel, and cement. Nitrogen fertilizer manufacturers would also get free credits, which will help contain costs borne by agriculture.
******************In other words, all the industries that are clamoring for this disaster would be the ones who get free passes, everyone else gets to pay - and pay - and pay.
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An analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the increased cost to the average household for higher energy prices would be about $175 per year or 48 cents per day. Overall, the amount of CO2 emissions preempted by this legislation would be the rough equivalent of taking 500 million cars off the road.
******************It WILL take 500 million cars off the roads - simply because their owners will be too broke to buy fuel.
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In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that net farm income would decrease in the short-run by less than 1% due to the free carbon credits for fertilizer manufacturers. After the free credits expire in 2025, the revenue that agriculture and forestry would receive from carbon offset activities-such as planting trees, using different tilling methods, and expanding bio-energy production-is predicted to be greater than any additional costs due to cap-and-trade.
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Always remember that whatever gov't predicts will come out at a minimum costing twice what they claim, and there's no upper limit to costs. Once this is enacted, the gates are flung wide for further enhancements to be added by whatever bureaucracy without CONgressional oversight is named to run it.
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On June 26, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454 by a vote of 219-212. The bill now proceeds to the Senate, where it will be open to further amendments.
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The first of which should be to kill it.
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Any climate change bill before Congress must ensure that the Midwest is treated fairly and that
If you are truly interested in not burdening us with excessive taxes and expenses, WHY do you keep proposing and passing legislation whose ONLY noticeable effect will be to increase our taxes and expenses and cost us our jobs?
This bill is anything but sensible. It's abominable.
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I appreciate hearing your views on this important bill, and please be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind before casting my vote. Thank you very much for writing to me.
Sincerely,
United States Senator
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I will be advising him of his errors shortly.
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