POLJUNK

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) - one of about 30 Democratic Senators making a bid for the presidency - has the boldest plan for addressing global warming. And he knows it. Among other things, it calls for all automobiles to get 50 miles per gallon by 2017. His plan also pushes for serious corporate carbon taxes. Says Dodd:

You cannot be serious about acting on the urgent threat of global warming, about making us less captive to Middle East oil, or investing in renewable energy, unless you have a corporate carbon tax that eliminates the last incentive there is to pollute -- that it's cheaper.

This is one of the reasons both The New York Times and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have come out in opposition to a draft bill currently being floated by Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Rick Boucher (D-VA). While this bill ostensibly is a step forward on global warming and other environmental issues, it's really a bill to protect corporate interests. It should die before it ever comes to the floor for a vote. Here's why:

- The new fuel efficiency standards in the bill are lower than even President Bush is asking for.
- It could stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions, which the Supreme Court recently said they must.
- The bill would stop states like California from embracing fuel efficiency standards that are more stringent than federal requirements.
- The bill would subsidize coal-to-liquid fuels, which create twice the greenhouse gas emissions per gallon that gasoline already does (but it's called "clean coal").

Serving the Detroit area, Dingell has always backed what the auto industry wants. And the auto industry loves this bill. So how could it be good for the rest of us? Call Representative Dingell's Washington office at 202-225-4071 and Representative Boucher's Washington office at 202-225-3861 to complain about this draft energy bill.

Posted by Mike Vasquez on June 11, 2007 11:34 AM | Permalink

Comments

This is going to sound like a strange question, but have you ever been to Michigan? In paticular, the Upper Peninsula?

Posted by: Nichole | September 12, 2007 9:02 AM

Uh oh, Mike. A love child returns!

Posted by: Derek Phillips | September 12, 2007 11:09 AM

Nichole,

That does sound like a strange question...

I AM Michigan. :-) Seriously, I live in Michigan. At an undisclosed location, in a bunker deep underground. With a variety of vacuum sealed meals and snacks. And 3 televisions.

Posted by: Mike | September 12, 2007 11:14 AM

And 3 televisions.

All tuned to the NASA channel!

Posted by: Jake | September 12, 2007 1:44 PM