In Climate Change Bill, What May Become an Election-Year Issue (Dems worried)

New York Times ^ | June 27, 2009 | Carl Hulse

[reaganaut1]

As Democrats strained to win over crucial holdouts on the way to narrow, party-line approval of global warming legislation, they were dogged by a critical question: Has the political climate changed since 1993?

Veteran members of both parties vividly remember when many House Democrats, in the early months of the Clinton administration, reluctantly backed a proposed B.T.U. tax — a new levy on each unit of energy consumed — only to see it ignored by the Senate and seized as a campaign issue by Republicans, who took control of the House the next year.

“A lot of Democrat members got burnt on that vote,” warned Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, who called the climate change measure the defining vote of this, the 111th, Congress.

...

Republicans obviously saw the parallels between the 1993 vote and the one Friday. As the gavel came down on their failed push to derail the bill, Republicans chanted “B.T.U., B.T.U.” and seemed almost in a celebratory mood.

“On the floor, it felt like we won,” said Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a party political strategist. “They put a lot of guys on the line.”

The votes were strikingly similar. In 1993, the legislation containing the Clinton energy tax was adopted on a 219-to-213 vote with 38 Democrats defecting. On Friday, the House bill was approved 219 to 212, with 44 Democrats defecting.

In an indication of the queasiness among some Democrats, House approval came only after a determined campaign to sway wavering lawmakers. It took personal intervention by the president and vice president; members of the cabinet; the White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel; Ms. Pelosi; and even last-minute agreements were struck on the House floor.

[hinckley buzzard]

Republicans should call this an energy tax -- it will raise electricity and gasoline prices

Exactly. They need to focus on the truth and ignore the flim-flam about the atmosphere and the global warming bullcrap. Meantime let's hope that the Senate has enough members with the sense to torpedo this rotting hulk of a slaver.

[AU72]

Based on Boehner’s reading, anybody running against this should have a field day.

[lt.america]

He is right in a sense. I watched the entire spectacle on CSPAN yesterday and if you had to score the debate, the R's won and they exposed some critical Democrats that are up for re-election in 2010. Obviously it could have gone better, but our boys represented to the end and Boehner’s last address, while no where near Henry Clay or the likes, still bested anything the Dems could usher to the podium to speak. Pelosi looked pathetic in comparison.

[ANGGAPO]

Speaking of the energy tax, the oil speculators are doing it again and I am waiting for the President to do something about it. Do you think he knows?

[Fredgoblu]

Stupid question...and I'll post it here and elsewhere instead of starting a vanity thread...

What prevents other countries from bidding up the price of a carbon credit, to the point that we cannot afford our own energy, and our industries cannot compete with imported manufactured goods?

What if China simultaneously dumps all of their treasury notes and trades them for American carbon credits? What then?

[rfp1234]

Republicans chanted “B.T.U., B.T.U.”

That ssounds catchy. Today, Conservatives need to chant “I.O.U., I.O.U.” at Tea Party rallies.

[JustTheTruth]

" Democrats were able to ease the climate change legislation forward, almost under the radar."

Notice how the NYT admires the Democrats' refined ability to conceal and deceive the masses of sheeple through speed, misdirection and diversion. One can only hope that a majority will soon wake up and wise up.

With higher gas prices coming, maybe a few more open their eyes.

[driftdiver]

“I’d suggest a small tweak. Call it an energy tax that energy companies will pass on to consumers in the form of higher prices.”

Too complicated, keep it simple

[savedbygrace]

“An energy tax that will be passed on to consumers.”

The thing is, people won’t see the added cost listed as a tax on their bills.

[callisto]

I suggest someone slip a resignation letter in the bills congress signs and does not read.

[Sgt_Schultze]

That might sell best, but this is much more than a tax on energy - it it a tax on every use of energy. That includes a big energy user - farming. And everything we buy is transported, mostly by truck. The prices of everything we purchase will increase due to this democrat legislation.

[what's up]

I think “Junk Science Tax” has more punch.

[chris_bdba]

Hey congress critters does “1994” ring any bells? Expect a repeat in 2010.

[wendy1946]

I have to wonder if any of those clowns have been outdoors in the last year. What we are presently experiencing is the second summer of the second little ice age. The last time anybody ever went two years without seeing sunspots was the Maunder minimum. It’s the end of June and in the mid Atlantic region we’ve had five halfway warm days and on those days it takes five hours to get warm and it doesn’t stay warm past 6 PM.

[Paladin2]

That’s good, but it just reinforces that the ‘rats are creatures of emotion, unswayed by any logic or the Scientific Method.

[lt.america]

I think in this case, many were swayed by bribes, threats, and intimidation. From what was being reported, there were many Dems walking back from the cloakroom with inverted arms if you know what I mean.

But you are right, for many Dems, it is more based on theory instead of reality (and sometimes it isn't based on theory, but what some harry armpit liberal code pinker is spewing).

[The Great RJ]

If by the next election some of the effects of cap and tax are evident it will become a real issue. However, double digit unemployment, plunging stocks and hidden tax increases will also be top issues in 2010. To have any chance of regaining Congress Republicans must get some leadership and get rid of the RINOs.

[randita]

This is only one skirmish in a long battle. Sometimes when you know you can’t win a skirmish, your goal is to inflict as much pain on your opponent as you can.

This bill was going to pass, whether or not 8 Republicans voted for it or not. Pelosi would have gotten the number of Democrats she needed-Democrats are team players. But what the Republicans did was to give 8 Democrats the luxury of voting NO who perilously might have had to vote YES if they absolutely had to. There were probably even more Democrats who would have preferred to vote NO, but Pelosi needed their votes, so they had to sacrifice. That’s where the damage was inflicted.

Dozens of Democrats are going to have this vote hung around their necks in 2010. All for Madame Pelosi to prove to Obama she could deliver the goods.

House Republicans knew no matter how the vote turned out, this bill was not going to pass in the Senate. In fact, Democrats knew that as well. But Pelosi made everyone go on record for or against. It was way, way closer than she wanted, despite her gloating. She also has had to give away the farm to way too many of her colleagues.

[ex-Texan]

Cap and Trade will hit working families very hard. Over $ 1,800 per family per year in increased energy costs. Typical electric bills would double or triple in most states. Increasing monthly costs would guarantee more foreclosures. This what 0 wants. He wants more people thrown out of their homes in the dead of winter.

Obama is owned by the same people that were behind strange, bloody Nazi practices. Today these occult practitioners are Bilderberg bankers, CFR traitors, Bohemian Grove elitists and Bohemian Grove demon worshipers.

Don't believe me ___________ ? Check my freeper page for proof.

[thile44]

Below is my reply to my congressman’s vote:

I am absolutely infuriated with your vote on the clean energy bill. At a time when most Americans are already struggling to make ends meet that you would vote for this legislation that will put all of us into a deeper hole is just incomprehensible to me. I promise that my support for you has just evaporated and I will do all in my power to work toward your defeat in the next election and to work toward the defeat of anyone else who voted for this bill. When are you going to represent the people who elect you and listen to what we want?