Posted on 12/08/2009 8:05:11 AM PST by Til I am the last man standing
I think we need to take a step back from the histronics surrounding the EPA announcement yesterday. Charles Krauthammer is correct in that this is a way to strong arm Congress into doing something. They are going after the egos of the Jim Webbs, Lindsey Grahams and John McCain. Let’s look at what the EPA CANNOT do: 1. They do not have the taxing authority of Congress, 2. The EPA cannot redistribute the wealth of this country the way congress can. 3. They have no way of making their political rulings permanent; another administration can overturn those rules. 4. Their rules are subject to more judicial scrutiny; we can sue them.
What can the implementation of this ruling cause? Increased CAFÉ standards will put more economic pressure on the rust belt. Emissions standards will strike another blow to the coal industry (are you listening Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia?). LET THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION BE THE SOLE OWNER OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF IMPLEMENTING THEIR RULING.
If Congress bows to the pressure that the Obama administration is placing on it we will get Cap and Trade. Don’t let what the EPA is doing give cover to those in the Senate that would like to do Cap and Trade, but have their poll numbers to worry about.
Sorry, I forgot to add that the EPA cannot set up a trillion dollar carbon trading scheme that will cost us even more money and enrich their Wall Street, Goldman-Sachs donors
While you are correct on paper, that doesn't make it so in the real world. We have to look no further than the FCC as an example of this, albeit on a smaller scale. Back in the mid 90s, Congress gave the FCC authority levy any 'fee' it saw fit and use the funds for purposes it deemed worthy to promote communication services and accessibility. This one small law then allowed the FCC to tack on whatever fee they wanted, whenever they wanted (thus all the 'telecom' fees you see on any communication services such as infrastructure fees, connectivity fees, 911 service fees, etc). None of these needed specific Congressional approval because they weren't 'taxes'. The FCC has added and changed these at will. They also have spent the money at will, all using that first Congressional authorization as cover, not needing any new bills for each change.
It takes no stretch of the imagination to see how the EPA could use a tactic like this on a much grander scale.
EPA can impose some very heavy handed regulations on business and utility companies that will cost jobs and raise the price of energy. This will delight Obama's base and may or may not hurt Democrat incumbents who can have their cake and eat it too. They can decry the actions of the EPA and avoid taking a vote on the issue [in the Senate]. Cap and trade can be delayed giving all of the Dems an out prior to the midterms.
I don't care if Obama owns this or not. The issue is higher prices for energy, which in turn drive up the costs of goods and services. And we will see if this has electoral consequences in 2010.
I say never stop attacking the government.
“They do not have the taxing authority of Congress”
It does not matter, they simply charge “fees” - look at my local public school - money given to them was reduced, I had to pay increased fees to the school for my children to attend.
So the government does not tax, it simply charges fees and further burdens the American people.
Yes they can charge “fees” and penalties but not on the scale that congress can and will. The taxes under a Cap and Trade plan would not only go to the general treasury, but into the global economy as a pay-off. Then there is the huge amount of money that will flow into the alternative energy sector to try to show that they are viable entities. Nope the EPA cannot do near the economic damage that Congress can.
do not forget that congress holds the power to defund them, wholly or in part. contact your rep.
Your right, kabar, the issue is higher prices for energy, but lets let Obama be the only one we have to point that finger at.
I said it before and I’ll say it again. Between this and Obamacare, this is the largest power grab by the Fed in US History.
I don’t know where they think millions of people are going to get the money for doubled home heating bills. This, alone, will bankrupt millions.
When a government department engages in blatant overreaching, it’s time to eliminate that department. The EPA has shown that they have no credibility at all, it’s time for them to go away.
Taxes are worse then fees. Trading schemes are worse then penalties. Billions of dollars going to sham alternative energy businesses to line the pockets of the Al Gores and GEs of the world are worse. Contact Congress. Don’t let them be suckered into doing something that is worse then the authority that the EPA has.
Sorry, but I disagree. The EPA can do a nearly infinite amount of damage here.
Letting Hussein and the Dems “own” the destruction of our freedom is worth nothing to me. I don’t want it to happen period.
With all respect to Charles K, this is giving essentially dictatorial powers to the EPA. The damage to our Constitution here is immeasurable.
The economic collapse of ‘08 didn’t start with the mortgage industry. It started with $4 a gallon gas.
Sorry, but their power is finite, and can be scrutinized thru the lens of the US judiciary. Sue every ruling they put out!
We can put up with a rogue EPA for 3 years, keep their rules bottled up in court until we can get a Chief Executive in the office who can gut them. Or congress can bow to this type of pressure and give us Cap and Trade which would take decades to unravel, if ever.
That goes the same for any health care bill that funds abortion, single payer or anything the democrats wish to pass. Anything other than being able to purchase insurance across state lines or torte reform is unacceptable.
OBAMA is a MARXIST and if he can't get the STUPID democrats in Congress to do his bidding, he will do an end run around them. After he finishes stacking the courts and giving all his MARXISTS friends (CZARS) powerful positions in our government, groups like ACORN and SEIU to do his bidding, he won't need Congress. The STUPID democrats in Congress think they are going to hang on to their power and RULE (per Pelosi) forever, but they're not. He will throw them under the bus quicker than he did his grandmother. He's already acting like Hugo Chavez.
I hope the powers that be in industry will band together, go after the EPA and make them prove in open court that C02 is indeed a pollutant. They can't. C02 is essential to all life on earth.
If you really want to befuddle a warmer, ask them to cite, to two significant digits, the current percentage of C02 in our atmosphere. I have yet to run into a warmer who can do it.....the answer is .034%
You, and others like you, are refusing to believe this could happen so Your bury your head in the sand and put your fingers in your ears singing "LaLaLaLa, I can't hear you!" refusing to face the fact we are being herded into a dictatorship by the democrats and the frickin' RINOs.
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