Cap and Trade Extras

I know, I know. I'm probably boring you to death by going through the Cap and Trade bill with a fine tooth comb.

But today, let's talk about how it would direct money to the working poor in America.

On page 1193, the bill would add a section to the Social Security Act on an "Energy Refund Program."

Basically, those making no more than 150% of the poverty line, would get monthly cash payments from the government to offset the extra costs that are caused by this bill.

In other words, as your energy bill goes up, the feds will help offset that increase.

That would mean single individuals making about $17,000 a year and families of four with $33,000 in income would be eligible for energy payments.

The bill would also tinker with the Earned Income Tax Credit, by doubling the EITC for those with no dependents, and include an inflation adjustment. That's on page 1209.

Then there is an interesting section right after the EITC language, Sec. 433, "Protection of Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds."

From the way I read it, the administrators of Medicare and Social Security would be able to tap into general revenues of the U.S. Government, if it is determined that the Cap and Trade bill has resulted in a reduction of revenues going into those two trust funds.

Let's say that again. The chieftains of Medicare and Social Security would be able to lay claim to tax dollars to offset money that did NOT come into the trust funds because of a loss of jobs attributed to the Cap and Trade bill.

The goal is to "place the Trust Fund in the same position at the end of such fiscal year as the position in which it would have been if such changes had not occurred."

And by the way, this is one of those 20 sections in the bill where "such sums" as necessary would be authorized.

* Payments to those making up to 150% of the poverty line to offset the costs of the Cap & Trade bill * A doubling of the EITC for low income workers with no dependents who qualify for aid * An open-ended funding of Medicare and Social Security money to deal with job losses and lower tax revenues caused by Cap & Trade

The Corporations and Associations that are backing this legislation can be found on pages H7685 & H7686 on the Congressional Record of HR 2998:

ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND ENERGY COMPANIES

Duke Energy
Exelon
PG&E Corporation
FPL Group
Austin Energy
National Grid
PNM Resources
Avista
NRG Energy Inc.
PSE+G
Edison Electric Institute
ConEdison
Constellation Energy
Entergy
Austin Energy
Renewable Fuels Assn.

MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRY AND CORPORATE

GE
Dow Chemical
Dow Corning
National Semiconductor
HP
Business Council on Sustainable Energy
Solar Power Industries
Alcoa
John Deere
Alstom Power
Johnson & Johnson
Siemens
Rio Tinto
BP Solar
Symantec
Applied Materials
eBay
Levi Strauss
Nike
Starbucks
Aspen/Snowmass
Seventh Generation
Clif Bar
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Buyers
Calpine Corp.
Genpower
BluewaterWind

LABOR

Steelworkers
Boilermakers
Communications Workers
Laborers International
Services Employees
Utilities Workers Union
Building and Construction Trades

FARM AND AGRICULTURE

National Farmers Union
American Farmland Trust
Growth Energy

COMMUNITY, FAITH AND ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Conference of Mayors
Environmental Defense Fund
League of Women Voters
National Parks Conservation Assn.
National Wildlife Federation
National Resource Defense Council
The Wilderness Society
American Institute of Architects
World Resources Institute
Pew Center on Global Climate Change
The Nature Conservancy
Sierra Club
HipHop Caucus
Center for American Progress
Latino Coalition
Union of Concerned Scientists
National Congress of American Indians
World Wildlife Fund
American Public Health Association
Defenders of Wildlife
League of Conservation Voters
Pew Environment Group
National Audubon Society
Renewable Fuels Assn.
American Chemical Society
American Rivers
Clean Water Action
Earthjustice
Environment America
International Forum on Globalization
Oxfam Oceana
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Izaak Walton League of America
Baptist Pastors and Theologians
Woods Hole Research Center/20 eminent scientists and leaders
United Nations Foundation
The Episcopal Church
United States Conf. of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Relief Services
Evangelical Climate Initiative
National Council of Churches
National Assn. of Clean Air Agencies
CARE
Trout Unlimited
United Methodist Church-General Board of Church & Society
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Climate Communities/ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA

NEED HELP PLEASE.

I sent the text of the bill off to the list serve in my neighborhood with some of the quotes from CNS NEWS. Of course all the liberals on the listserve are jumping on me claiming I am spewing right wing propaganda.

I have been challenged to point where in the bill it mandates that you must fix your house before you can sell it, the REEP program issues. I already quoted all the stuff about retrofitting to them, and I saw the interview Juan Williams did with Bill Burton. I can’t find this on-line, or any source they will accept.

Do you have a reference in the bill where it talks about having to fix stuff before you sell your home ?
Thanks much

Hate to admit to it, but it appears that the only way to get out of this mess is through the “Where’s the Birth Certificate” birthers.

Heck, he’s ADMITTED in his books that his father was a British subject and NO ONE stopped him from running for President, based on that.

THEN, before the Swearing in he goes to the Supreme Court (minus 1) without cameras or anyone recording what’s being said an when a camera is allowed in to document the event, everyone’s LAUGHING.

ARE THEY ALL ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT-ers?

Something ain’t right.

Hi BG -

That’s very helpful, thank you. Especially the link to the Austin website where it is clear that they are already doing this...

However, do you know if the bill’s text says anything directly about when the audit is to be performed ? I am being challenged on the “bill says nothing about people entering your home or being forced to implement these energy efficieny ratings”...
they also are discarding anything reported on conversative websites. so the examiner will be discarded simply because it is viewed as conservative website.

so an actual reference to the bills’ text would be really helpful. both on the fact that they can enter your home and on the resale stuff.

thanks for all the help.

theresa rickman

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.