Posted on 06/19/2015 12:42:02 PM PDT by ebb tide
While the Obama administration and environmentalists celebrate Pope Francis encyclical on global warming, Sen. Jim Inhofe is warning the popes views on the subject could be used by the left to enact the biggest tax increase in U.S. history.
I disagree with the popes philosophy on global warming, the Oklahoma Republican said in a statement. I am concerned that his encyclical will be used by global warming alarmists to advocate for policies that will equate to the largest, most regressive tax increase in our nations history.
Franciss encyclical, called Laudato Si, calls for reducing fossil fuel use and increasing green energy production. Francis also calls for a global agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to fight global warming.
Global regulatory norms are needed to impose obligations and prevent unacceptable actions, for example, when powerful companies dump contaminated waste or offshore polluting industries in other countries, Francis wrote in his encyclical.
The popes message was celebrated by environmental activists and even Obama administration officials. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said the popes encyclical should inspire all countries to redouble the deployment of clean energy technologies and energy efficiencies and find the international will to significantly cut global emissions of heat-trapping pollution.
Environmental groups are already using the popes message to try and build support for regulations to reduce fossil fuel use. Democratic lawmakers have already introduced bills imposing taxes on CO2 emissions and the EPA is in the process of finalizing emissions limits for power plants.
Inhofe worries activists and left-wing politicians will use the popes encyclical as justification for policies that will raise energy prices effectively imposing a massively regressive tax on Americans.
Its the poor that spend the largest portion of their expendable income to heat their homes, and they will be the ones to carry the heaviest burden of such onerous policies, Inhofe said.
While Inhofe agrees mankind should protect the environment from traditional pollutants, he disagrees with calls to get rid of fossil fuels to fight global warming. Inhofe has made a name for himself opposing such regulations and for calling global warming the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.
As Dr. Thomas Burke, EPAs science advisor, told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week, science is never settled, Inhofe said. Climate science isnt settled.
We have been innovative with our energy supply, and for generations the United States has lifted people out of poverty through the development of our God-given natural resources, most prominently from fossil fuels, he added. We have worked to make these resources cleaner and more efficient, and natural gas is a perfect example.
Like many conservatives, Inhofe argues that fossil fuels and industrialization have made the world much richer, and a richer world is a cleaner world contrary to what the pope claims in his encyclical. The senator argues that ditching fossil fuels will drive more people into poverty and cause more harm to the environment.
To unravel this fabric of economic opportunity would create more poverty, not less, Inhofe said. Energy is a lifeblood of the modern world, and we cannot ignore that efficient, cost-effective electricity is a means to sufficient healthcare, employment opportunities, agriculture production, and vitality of life.
Good well meaning people are capable of doing incredibly bad things through ignorance.
Maybe we can afford the increase if the Church starts paying taxes...
U.S liberal politicians in bed with the pope!
Didnt see that one coming, did ya.
The political control freaks agenda is working.
Just send my tax increase bill to the Vatican in care of His Holiness.
Sounds more like tithing.
It will never occur to these people that the most dangerous global warming aspect is that which emanates from their vocal cords because they are dead wrong?
I wish you luck with that.
—...effectively imposing a massively regressive tax on Americans.—
You see, Senator, unjust regressive taxation is a-ok when it satisfies a liberal agenda.
No msm outlet will dare point this our or make it an issue. And no one will ever think about it.
While true, there is no evidence that this is the case here.
This pope “give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s” ....and that is all.
Our Pope needs to go save SOULS...PRONTO!! The world is falling apart and he’s on this!!! And they say Jesuits are SMART..HA!
This Pope is an antiChrist.
As if he can change GOD’S PLAN for EARTH! ARROGANCE!
There isn’t?
Wait until the massive carbon taxes are implemented on U. S. companies.
Watch what happens as they are destroyed and more people are out of work.
The Pope will have contributed to that mindset.
What more evidence do you need?
Here is the Catholic send-off for Ted Kennedy.
You said "Good well meaning people are capable of doing incredibly bad things through ignorance." Do you have any evidence that the Pope falls into this definition? The proposed outcomes of yours are in line with his views expressed on economics.
I don't think he published this out of ignorance. As for him being 'good' or 'well meaning' I don't see that either, but you'd likely get a negative response judging from the comments on this site from Catholic freepers, apart from the 'Pope can do nothing wrong' 'was mistranslated' crowd.
Sen. Jim Inhofe is warning the popes views on the subject could be used by the left to enact the biggest tax increase in U.S. history."
FR: Never Accept the Premise of Your Opponents Argument
While Sen. Inhofes intentions are probably good, his warning completely ignores that the states have never delegated to the feds, expressly via the Constitution, the power to tax and spend in the name of climate issues.
In fact, the Supreme Court has clarified in broad terms that Congress is prohibited from appropriating taxes in the name of state power issues, essentially any issue, climate issues a good example, which Congress cannot justify under its constitutional Article I, Section 8-limited powers.
Congress is not empowered to tax for those purposes which are within the exclusive province of the States. Justice John Marshall, Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824.
If it were real, civil engineering projects such as building and raising seawalls near inhabited coastal areas would do a lot more good. So would moving water to below sea level areas which are wholly or nearly uninhabited. Egypt's Qatarra Depression, just as one example, would require construction of a 30 mile channel to the Mediterranean Sea and produce a reservoir with the surface area of Lake Ontario and roughly 2.4 times the water holding capacity.
Gee. I thought we were supposed to keep religion out of the government - separation of Church and State, and all that.
Not to mention that the Pope is also the leader of a Sovereign nation.
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