Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Democrats Seek $500 Billion in Climate Damages From Big Polluting Companies
New York Times ^ | August 4, 2021 | Lisa Friedman

Posted on 08/04/2021 5:01:56 AM PDT by karpov

Democrats in Congress want to tax Exxon, Chevron and a handful of other major oil and gas companies, saying the biggest climate polluters should pay for the floods, wildfires and other disasters that scientists have linked to the burning of fossil fuels.

The draft legislation from Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland directs the Treasury Department and the Environmental Protection Agency to identify the companies that released the most greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from 2000 to 2019 and assess a fee based on the amounts they emitted.

That could generate an estimated $500 billion over the next decade, according to Mr. Van Hollen. The money would pay for clean energy research and development as well as help communities face the flooding, fires and other disasters that scientists say are growing more destructive and frequent because of a warming planet. The bill for the largest polluters could be as much as $6 billion annually spread over 10 years, according to a draft of the plan.

“It’s based on a simple but powerful idea that polluters should pay to help clean up the mess they caused, and that those who polluted the most should pay the most,” Mr. Van Hollen said in an interview. “Those who have profited the most should help now pay the damages that they’ve already cause.”

The proposal comes as the Senate prepares to vote on a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure package that includes billions of dollars to help communities prepare for and recover from extreme weather driven by climate change. Democrats hope to later pass a separate $3.5 trillion budget package that will include measures to cut carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases that result from burning fossil fuels and that are helping to drive up global temperatures.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: chevron; exxon; globalwarming; oil
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last
To state the obvious, these "big polluting companies" produce the fuels that keep the lights on, power our cars, and heat our homes. If the Democrats were serious and honest, they would propose a big hike in the gasoline tax, but they know how unpopular that would be.
1 posted on 08/04/2021 5:01:56 AM PDT by karpov
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: karpov

That’s not the half of it, they want a big class action lawsuit against big oil. There are lawyers who spent their entire career training for that case.


2 posted on 08/04/2021 5:03:52 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

The stupidity is exceeded only by the larcenous intent.


3 posted on 08/04/2021 5:05:28 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard (resist the narrative. .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

If I ran a big oil company I’d shut it down for a couple weeks. Call is a reality check..


4 posted on 08/04/2021 5:08:42 AM PDT by enduserindy (I’m done explaining basic math and the definition of freedom. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

Remember when Mad Maxine said to the oil executives “this liberal will be all about ‘socializing’”, which she said — while stumbling around in search of the word “nationalization” — meant “taking over” and “the government running all of your companies”.


5 posted on 08/04/2021 5:11:48 AM PDT by griswold3 (When chaos serves the State, the State will encourage chaos.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: karpov

I’d agree to it.
As long as the Dems pay off half the debt,13trillion, by next year.
And an additional 3 trillion for reparations.


6 posted on 08/04/2021 5:13:53 AM PDT by Leep (Save America. Lock down Joe Biden!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: griswold3

Yep. All the marbles. Take take take.


7 posted on 08/04/2021 5:15:15 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: karpov
It's shake down time. Democrats were always so jealous of the mob.
8 posted on 08/04/2021 5:17:29 AM PDT by liberalh8ter (The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

How can an invisible harmless gas cause droughts in one area and floods in another?


9 posted on 08/04/2021 5:17:49 AM PDT by brookwood (Obama said you could keep your plan - Sanders says higher taxes will improve the weatheryour)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: karpov

It’s just a way to nationalizing part of the companies. They can’t just outright seize them, like Venezuela did, so they take a part. And the supremely ignorant American public doesn’t want to know what IS coming down the pick and IS going to change their lives radically.


10 posted on 08/04/2021 5:19:48 AM PDT by I want the USA back (To find out who really rules you, find out who you're not allowed to criticize. Voltaire. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

I don’t have a problem with this. Those corps were totally AWOL when Trump needed their help getting reelected. Let them eat Democrat cake now.


11 posted on 08/04/2021 5:20:08 AM PDT by lodi90
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: brookwood

“How can an invisible harmless gas cause droughts in one area and floods in another?”

Because...Trump.


12 posted on 08/04/2021 5:33:39 AM PDT by billyboy15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: brookwood

“How can an invisible harmless gas cause droughts in one area and floods in another?”

Heat bubbles

Quite often the District of Columbia will be cloud-free while starting around the Beltway there will be clouds.

When I first lived in the DC area about 40 years ago, the cloud-free area tended to end around the northern limit of the District.

The District, highly developed, is often in a heat bubble.

The intensity of a rainfall will often depend on temperature difference. Increasing the temperature difference will cause a more severe rainfall.

One can see by the clouds that the area of substantial effect is quite limited.


13 posted on 08/04/2021 5:33:59 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: liberalh8ter

Yeah. The Godfather would be proud.


14 posted on 08/04/2021 5:35:00 AM PDT by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commie is lying is when they open their pieholes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: brookwood

Now since Europe has cut its CO2 emissions, leftists should claim droughts and flooding in Europe should be less severe.


15 posted on 08/04/2021 5:36:42 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Any of these companies chinese, or have factories in china?


16 posted on 08/04/2021 5:41:09 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

“Democrats hope to later pass a separate $3.5 trillion budget package that will include measures to cut carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases that result from burning fossil fuels and that are helping to drive up global temperatures.”

Has Biden’s CO2 pledge already been forgotten?

“President Biden opened a global summit on climate change Thursday morning by announcing that the United States will aim to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half, based on 2005 levels, by the end of the decade.”

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/988051091/biden-makes-new-pledge-for-u-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-a-50-cut

Just eight years, four months, twenty-six days away

And speaking of Biden pledges:

“Liberals are now questioning President Biden’s pledge that ‘Nobody making under $400,000 bucks would have their taxes raised, period,’ with a new analysis from the left-leaning Tax Policy Center.”

https://gop-waysandmeans.house.gov/liberals-biden-breaking-tax-pledge/

https://twitter.com/DonFSchneider/status/1404428303218495502?s=20


17 posted on 08/04/2021 5:49:09 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise

“big class action lawsuit” against Big Oil

I guess the tobacco lawsuit money just wasn’t enough.


18 posted on 08/04/2021 5:51:49 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: karpov
flooding, fires and other disasters that scientists say are growing more destructive and frequent because of a warming plane

They will have a problem here. The data doesn't support their claim.

19 posted on 08/04/2021 5:55:56 AM PDT by SomeCallMeTim ( The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them!it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

IF they sue, cut off the fuel to their states. ZERO, don’t let anyone sell your refined products where they sued you. Watch them squeal.


20 posted on 08/04/2021 5:56:42 AM PDT by King_Corey (Buy SILVER and GOLD to hedge against the coming market destruction of FIAT currency)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson