The news is full of stories about imaginary people. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett are dead. The stories of a big star and a little star have ended; their innumerable fans are in mourning, escaping into wise and knowing commentaries about the profound importance of two diverting entertainers.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has passed H.R.2454 (story here). The title of the bill should reassure us.
To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy.
Don’t we all know that our leaders always have our best interests at heart? None of these honorable men and women have any desire except to be servants of the public. Ambition is the farthest thing from their minds. None would dare to think of themselves as our all knowing overseers.
The Washington Post, that wise spokesperson for Truth, Justice, and Traditional American Ways, describes the key provisions of the legislation here. This is a list of the wonderful things that will happen if the Senate passes the climate bill. So again, we should be reassured. Anything that is in print must be true. We can be certain our country is in safe and knowing hands.
Nonetheless, there are reports from alarmists determined to find fault in this 1300 page bill.
- The bill was unveiled at 3 AM yesterday, the day before the vote. So these alarmists complained they had not had time to read the bill. Don’t they trust the leadership?
- CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that over the 2010-2019 period enacting this legislation would increase federal revenues by about $846 billion; and increase direct spending by about $821 billion. CBO also estimates that implementing H.R. 2454 would increase discretionary spending by about $50 billion over the 2010-2019 period. (from here)
- In its own article, the Washington Post noted peculiar behavior by our legislative leaders.
The bill’s co-sponsors, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and Markey, rejected Obama’s proposal to auction all emission allowances and use most of the revenues for tax cuts. Instead the measure would give away 85 percent of the annual emission allowances to consumers, coal-intensive manufacturers and utilities, as well as a variety of clean-energy interests, such as biofuel developers and superconductor makers. Most of those free allowances would be phased out in 10 to 20 years.That set off a lobbying feeding frenzy, with 880 business and interest groups registered to lobby on the bill.
- Some Republicans regard the H.R.2454 as an organizational nightmare that kills jobs.
- Others fear the bill as overreaching tyranny.
What is this complex bill about? Will it do what it is advertised to do? Do you know, or are you more interested in escaping into the lives of people you will never know and may not have want to have known except on a TV?
By the way, the Washington Post shows how our congressmen vote here. You may wish to let you congressmen know how you feel and tell your Senators how you feel about this bill (start here).
Other Views
From On High questions what the bill was about here.
Blue Virginia posts a statement (here) from Congressman Tom Perriello, the blogger’s hero.
Fred2Blue raves about Congressman Tom Perriello’s balls (here).
