Welcome to the Senate Mr. Franken!
The Democrats have now secured 60 members in the US Senate, giving them a filibuster-proof majority. You would think Democrats and their supporters would be wringing their hands with glee.
There's hand-wringing going on all right, but not with anticipation.
The US House's recently passed Cap & Trade Bill is a perfect example. This horrendous piece of legislation barely squeaked out of the House to land on the Senate's doorstep. Why is the bill so bad?
1. In addition to the current tax on fuel in this country, the Cap & Trade bill would impose a per-mile fee on every vehicle. So, you bought that hybrid car, because you have a long commute and want to save on the high cost of gasoline? NOT SO FAST! The government still wants their money. Through this bill, you'll now have to pay a tax based solely on the miles you drive.
2. Coal, as a carbon emitting fuel, would be taxed at a rate that is higher than the coal itself. Quick translation - The cost of electricity in those states that rely on coal fired energy plants will necessarily increase by double. Increasing our energy bills by double? I thought Obama wasn't going to increase anyone's taxes who makes under $250,000? I guess if you tax the business, and they pass it onto the consumer, it's not considered taxing the consumer. Very clever!
Clearly, the Cap & Trade was bad legislation. But the house members (that voted for it) can now return to their districts and secure necessary donations from the environmentalists in their district. A smart move indeed.
Now the Senate has to take up this loser of a bill. It's highly doubtful it will be passed. When Senators like Claire McCaskill of Missouri (who regularly drinks the liberal kool aide) is expressing doubts about the bill, it's in trouble. She recognizes, correctly, that this legislation will decimate coal producing states, like Missouri, while placing undue burden on business and consumers alike.
Cap & Trade may be the precursor of the next year in Congress. Each house passes some outrageous piece of legislation that will satisfy their left wing nuts, and then shoot it over to the other chamber for them to show some backbone.
Gridlock in Congress? We've seen it for decades, but never when one party had such lopsided control.
There's hand-wringing going on all right, but not with anticipation.
The US House's recently passed Cap & Trade Bill is a perfect example. This horrendous piece of legislation barely squeaked out of the House to land on the Senate's doorstep. Why is the bill so bad?
1. In addition to the current tax on fuel in this country, the Cap & Trade bill would impose a per-mile fee on every vehicle. So, you bought that hybrid car, because you have a long commute and want to save on the high cost of gasoline? NOT SO FAST! The government still wants their money. Through this bill, you'll now have to pay a tax based solely on the miles you drive.
2. Coal, as a carbon emitting fuel, would be taxed at a rate that is higher than the coal itself. Quick translation - The cost of electricity in those states that rely on coal fired energy plants will necessarily increase by double. Increasing our energy bills by double? I thought Obama wasn't going to increase anyone's taxes who makes under $250,000? I guess if you tax the business, and they pass it onto the consumer, it's not considered taxing the consumer. Very clever!
Clearly, the Cap & Trade was bad legislation. But the house members (that voted for it) can now return to their districts and secure necessary donations from the environmentalists in their district. A smart move indeed.
Now the Senate has to take up this loser of a bill. It's highly doubtful it will be passed. When Senators like Claire McCaskill of Missouri (who regularly drinks the liberal kool aide) is expressing doubts about the bill, it's in trouble. She recognizes, correctly, that this legislation will decimate coal producing states, like Missouri, while placing undue burden on business and consumers alike.
Cap & Trade may be the precursor of the next year in Congress. Each house passes some outrageous piece of legislation that will satisfy their left wing nuts, and then shoot it over to the other chamber for them to show some backbone.
Gridlock in Congress? We've seen it for decades, but never when one party had such lopsided control.
I'm sure the suppressed EPA report by the Obama administration questioning man-made global warming doesn't help Cap and Trade's possibilities of passing either.
We wouldn't even be having this conversation is the 8 GOP turncoats would have voted against it in the House. It would have been a massive defeat for Pelosi. Harry Reid can let the bill die in the Senate because he'll be too busy messing with trying to get health care passed.
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