+ + + UPDATE 5/22 -- Committee Passes Cap and Trade Tax, 33-25
Waxman's 934-page Cap and Trade Carbon Tax bill was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee 33-25. Thirty two (of 36) Democrats and one Republican voted in favor of the bill. Four Democrats identified by Grassfire as key targets voted "NO."
Breakdown of the Vote
The Committee does not formally publish the actual Roll Call Vote for the H.R. 2454, but our sources on the Hill confirm the following list of "yea" votes in favor of imposing the cap and trade Carbon Tax:
Democrats Voting YES:
Henry A. Waxman, CA, Chair,
John D. Dingell, MI, Chair Emeritus
Edward J. Markey, MA ,
Rick Boucher, VA
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Bart Gordon, TN
Bobby L. Rush, IL
Anna G. Eshoo, CA
Bart Stupak, MI
Eliot L. Engel, NY
Gene Green, TX
Diana DeGette, CO
Lois Capps, CA
Mike Doyle, PA
Jane Harman, CA
Jan Schakowsky, IL
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
Jay Inslee, WA
Tammy Baldwin, WI
Anthony D. Weiner, NY
G.K. Butterfield, NC
Baron P. Hill, IN
Doris O. Matsui, CA
Donna M. Christensen, VI
Kathy Castor, FL
John P. Sarbanes, MD
Christopher S. Murphy, CT
Zachary T. Space, OH
Jerry McNerney, CA
Betty Sutton, OH
Bruce L. Braley, IA
Peter Welch, VT
Lone Republican Voting "YES"
Mary Bono Mack, CA
These Democrats voted “No”: Charlie Melancon, LA , Mike Ross, AR, Jim Mtheson, UT, John Barrow, GA
Next Steps
Thanks to the efforts of grassroots citizens across the country, the bill leaves the committee weakened. News reports indicate that Democrats in the House are still very divided. One faction, led by Charles Rangel, prefers the direct carbon tax over the cap-and-trade carbon tax. Rangel is threatening to hold the bill up. Collin Peterson (D-MN) heads up another faction of midwestern and
Ag state Democrats who disapprove of the bill. Peterson said after the vote, “They can do whatever they want with this, but I can tell you, there is no way this is going to pass.” Peterson claims he has 40 Democrats who will vote "No" if this is taken to the floor.
Idaho Democrat Walt Minnick, who formerly supported the cap and trade tax, now says the tax “will spawn a big bureaucracy and is susceptive to manipulation and misuse."
The Senate is another significant hurdle.
We expect Waxman's bill to slowly work its way through the House toward a floor vote in late June or early July. So, in our assessment, with the bill limping out of committee grassroots citizens win Round One of this very important battle.
+ + +
UPDATE 5/19 -- 12 Key Democrats
Grassfire has identified 12 key Democrats on the committee who will decide the fate of the cap-and-trade Carbon Tax. Here is the list:
Rep. Michael Ross (AR) 202-225-3772
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA) 202-225-4031
Rep. G. Butterfield (NC) 202-225-3101
Rep. Zack Space (OH) 202-225-6265
Rep. Michael Doyle (PA) 202-225-2135
Rep. Bart Gordon (TN) 202-225-4231
Rep. Charles Gonzalez (TX) 202-225-3236
Rep. Gene Green (TX) 202-225-1688
Rep. James Matheson (TX) 202-225-3011
Rep. Rick Boucher (VA) 202-225-3861
Rep. Peter Welch (VT) 202-225-4115
Rep. Jay Inslee (WA) 202-225-6311
+ + +
UPDATE 5/19--"Smoking Gun"
Here is the "smoking gun" memo from Obama's OMB that directly criticizes the economic impact of the Carbon Tax as well as the validity of the entire climate alarmism scheme-- Full document here (.pdf), and two key excerpts:
"SERIOUS ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES" "Making the decision to regulate CO2 ... for the first time is likely to have serious economic consequences for regulated entities throughout the U.S. economy, including small businesses and small communities."
"NO DEMONSTRATED HEALTH EFFECTS" In the absence of a strong statement of the standards being applied in this decision, there is a concern that EPA is making a finding based on (1) "harm" from substances that have no demonstrated direct health effects."
+ + +
(Original Post)
All signs indicate that President Obama and Rep. Henry Waxman are pushing for a key vote on the Carbon Tax BEFORE Memorial Day -- a tax that studies show will cost each family $3,100 each and every year.
Last week, Obama met behind closed doors with House Democrats to pressure them to pass the Carbon Tax. Now, Waxman is even contemplating skipping the Subcommittee hearing on the $2 trillion Carbon Cap and Trade Tax (The Waxman-Markey bill; original draft here; summary here) and fast-tracking this new tax straight to his Energy and Commerce Committee.
Waxman wants this all done by the end of next week… and Team Obama is turning up the heat on key Democrats in the House to pressure quick passage of the Carbon Tax.
+ + +Why Obama and Waxman Are Fast-Tracking The CO2 Tax
There’s a reason Obama and Waxman are pulling out the stops to pressure Democrats to pass this tax through the Committee…
Obama, Waxman, Pelosi and the gang fear that any delays
could kill their precious plan to “save the planet” and give
the government the power to tax and control the air!
That’s because even some Democrats are now getting nervous about imposing such a large tax at a time when the economy is struggling. Reports indicate this new tax could cost the average American over $3,000 every year and result in 7 million lost jobs! (Go here to download a .pdf of the MIT report from which the $3,100 estimate is generated. Here is the pertinent data from pages 24-25 which reports $366 billion it carbon tax revenues. The GOP is using this number, divided by 111 million households, to derive the roughly $3,100 cost per family.)
Dems -- especially the Blue Dog Dems -- are getting very squeamish. Many are particularly annoyed that Waxman is considering skipping the subcommittee hearing in order to rush the bill to the full committee and get his vote by the Memorial Day break. The New York Times reports that Waxman will produce a new version of the bill this week to appease the concerns of moderates.
+ +Americans Oppose this new Tax
Democrats and the White House try to claim that cap and trade is not a tax. But Warren Buffett recently admitted that cap and trade is a "regressive" tax that the utilities will "pass through" to consumers. And even Democrat John Dingell admitted recently that "Cap and Trade is a tax, and a great big one."
How big is this tax? Obama's shows "only" $600 billion for carbon tax revenues -- that alone would be the largest single tax increase in history. But the real, hidden number is closer to $2 trillion over 8 years. And the American people overwhelmingly do NOT want the Carbon Tax (by a 2-to-1 margin according to Pew Research).
+ + +Global “reset” of the economy under way!
If the cap-and-trade scheme passes, it will initiate the most radical restructuring of our economy toward socialism in American history. And don’t be fooled… Al Gore and “Big Environment” will get filthy rich in the process. In fact, as Timothy Carney of the Washington Examiner explains, companies like GE are lining up to profit from the global warming scheme. Carney points out that GE has invested millions in lobbying in favor of carbon tax related schemes. And GE's Chairman Jeffrey Immelt actually sees a global "reset" of capitalism under way:
"I believe we are going through more than a cycle. The global economy, and capitalism, will be “reset” in several important ways. The interaction between government and business will change forever. In a reset economy, the government will be a regulator; and also an industry policy champion, a financier, and a key partner."
Waxman wants to fly under the radar and push the Carbon Tax Scheme before the American people realize what is happening. As a result, the most crucial vote on the Carbon Tax cap-and-trade scheme may be taking place before Memorial Day.
I knew that Obama has been out to get the American people way before he was elected president and now I really know it. He is trying to take us to the bottom of the barrel and so we all can be on welfare and go thru the soup lines together. We as American people have got to stand up for what we believe and everyone needs to call every representative. I just got my email, but I will call everyone of them tomorrow. We need to join these Tea Parties, Watch Glenn Beck, Shawn Hannity. O'Reilly, and Greta and they all will tell you the truth about President Pelosi who needs to be fired, King Obama, and Prince Harry Reid. I don't even know this Waxman person but by the time I call and fax a bunch of rejections to him and everyone else I will surely know who he is. Please everyone stick together and don't give up. We are the ones that is having to pay the taxes and the scoundrels owe to us to try to help us out. Why can't we impeach or fire these scoundrels. I think we have a right to get rid of these (Left Wing Radical Communist) and let the American people find the right people for these jobs. We have got to do something and that means we need to pray. The Lord is in control and has all the money, so we do need to turn to him with this matter. He can bring his wrath down on these evil people. He won't let Demon possessed get away with these things forever.
President Barack Obama described the plan best when he said “[u]nder my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.”
And skyrocket they will. In total, a typical family of four will see its energy costs rise by over $22,800 from 2012-2035.
This bogus bill will raise our electric rates ~90%!!!! Who can/wants to afford that!!!???
It will raise gasoline prices ~70% and natural gas prices ~55%!!!!
This is a hidden tax and needs to be stopped. This administration wants to bankrupt the American people so that we will HAVE to be dependent on them.
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN!!!!
I phoned every office on this list and told them what I thought of the passage of this act. Of course, all I got were 'thank yous' for my concern. But I'd like to think the message will get to the members in question and let them know that I support them if they will support me!
We MUST let our voices be heard!
I contact my local representative on an almost DAILY basis. He does not agree with me on almost every issue but that will never stop me from letting him know how I feel. Afterall, he was sent to WDC to represent ME...not special interest groups, powerful politicians, or his own interest.
They ALL need to be reminded what their job is.
REMEMBER WHAT POLITICIANS VOTE FOR THAT CARBON TAX CRAP,IN 2010 VOTE THEM OUT.MAKE THEM PAY A HEAVY PRICE FOR GOING AGAINST THE PEOPLE'S WISHES.WE HAVE THE POWER OF VOTES ,USE IT, IF NOT THEN WE ALL PAY.CONTACT YOUR POLITICIANS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL FORM A CAMPAIGN TO VOTE THEM OUT,IF THEY VOTE FOR PASSAGE OR DO NOTHING TO STOP IT!
I don't think this is the time to be passing a bill as huge and encompassing as the Cap and Trade. Nationwide, the employment rate is skyrocketing; gas prices are on their way up; we have at least 3 states (California, Michigan and New York) going broke and probably more to come. And my major protest of this bill is the way it's being rushed through and crammed down our throats again. IF we are even thinking of a bill that has so much influence on America's every day life, we need to discuss it in detail and at the grassroots level. Too many of us have voiced opposition to this bill, and once again it's falling on deaf ears. I have sent faxes to the White House as well as contacting Congressman Blumenhaurer, Senators Wyden and Merkle. The response I got (and really expected no more from the Obamots in office) was a canned letter once again and I already knew that our representation from this state jumps as high as Obama tells them. It's pretty sad that our government could care less want we think. Most of us are the financial support that this government needs to continue forward, but when it comes to listening to what we really want or at least allow us to have a discussion at the grassroots level, it goes no where.
This needs to be stopped and now. I have spent my morning calling reps' all over the country telling NO and enough is enough. This is only one big tax-bill that will tax the air you breath. We need to let everyone know about this bill and what it will do to our freedoms. Run, call, email your friends, family and neighbors to get in on this fight before we lose and they make millions.
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