Posted on 07/07/2007 5:33:56 PM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON, July 6 — A powerful House Democrat said on Friday that he planned to propose a steep new “carbon tax” that would raise the cost of burning oil, gas and coal, in a move that could shake up the political debate on global warming.
The proposal came from Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and it runs directly counter to the view of most Democrats that any tax on energy would be a politically disastrous approach to slowing global warming.
But Mr. Dingell, in an interview to be broadcast Sunday on C-Span, suggested that his goal was to show that Americans are not willing to face the real cost of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. His message appeared to be that Democratic leaders were setting unrealistic legislative goals.
“I sincerely doubt that the American people will be willing to pay what this is really going to cost them,” said Mr. Dingell, whose committee will be drafting a broad bill on climate change this fall.
“I will be introducing in the next little bit a carbon tax bill, just to sort of see how people think about this,” he continued. “When you see the criticism I get, I think you’ll see the answer to your question.”
The idea behind a carbon tax is to provide an incentive to reduce the use of fossil fuels like oil and coal, which are loaded with carbon, and increase the use of cleaner, renewable fuels like solar power, wind and fuels made from plants and plant waste.
Many economists like the idea of a carbon tax, saying that it would be simple to administer and could profoundly affect energy choices.
But most Democrats are staunchly opposed, saying that a tax would raise the costs of travel, commuting...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
bizarre
Looks like Mr. Dingell wants to bury the carbon. He even goes so far as to call it the Dingell-Bury bill.
Good news here.
From Mr. Dingell’s remarks, as well as the automobile producing district he represents, it appears that this “carbon tax” is going nowhere fast at least in this Congress.
“I sincerely doubt that the American people will be willing to pay what this is really going to cost them,” said Mr. Dingell
Hello Dingell - I think some people have been saying that for quite a while now.
... especially when the "benefits" are largely hallucinations in the brain of the Goracle.
Hey John Dingbat, real science seems to indicate that carbon in any form has little or nothing to do with any global warming. Try informing yourself before proposing the knee-jerk Democrat tax “solution” to every perceived problem.
God forbid this happens with the current drop of ignoramuses in congress.
Don’t I remember that dingel is a commie criminal?
In any case, he can write what he wants, ignorant of the fact that it would kill the economy, and doubly ignorant that it would never make it through the Senate or past the president.
Maybe they ought to have a tax on Congressmen who never leave. Dingell and his old dead carbon-based father have represented the same seat in Congress for the past 74 years.
TERM LIMITS NOW!
Hey, beethovenfan, try reading the article before you post. Dingell is agreeing with you. I'm usually no fan of his but he's hoisting the Dems on their own petard.
Pelosi et. al. depend on ignorance to support their plans for hobbling American industry in the name of saving the environment. Dingell is trying to show people that their worthless plans will cost real cash money.
Trial balloon and the first taste of the halter for America.
Wish it was introduced in our state to see what we think. Instead, it was just signed.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1861913/posts
New Jersey governor signs toughest U.S. carbon law
The Dem Creed:
If it’s moving, tax it; if it slows, regulate it; if it stops, subsidize it.
Well, Dingell, while you’re at it, why don’t you just submit a bill outlawing the element carbon altogether and get to the real root of the “problem.”
Dingbat!
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