Posted on 06/28/2009 6:33:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
What may have been a vote for the highest tax increase in the history of the United States, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the “American Clean Energy and Security Act” by a vote of 219-212. It came after a passionate filibuster-like speech by Republican Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, pleading with members of the House to vote down the bill.
Congressman Boehner questioned a bill that puts massive new energy restrictions on industry, on a national level, as opposed to worldwide cooperation in dealing with carbon monoxide pollution.
In other words, neither China nor India, the largest polluters in the world, has agreed to restrict or cut back any pollutants. This leaves the United States alone in this effort.
The U.S. could build more nuclear power plants that would cut carbon monoxide emissions to zero for billions of dollars less. This plan would be much like the French have accomplished using nuclear power for 85% of the country’s usage. The current bill now on its way to the Senate will do nothing to promote alternative energy.
But, to the obvious glee of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the White House, the bill passed its first test in the House. It faces an uphill battle for passage in the Senate.
The bill faced an underdog role from its inception. Viewed by many lawmakers as an expensive gimmick for reining in pollutants caused by American industry, it took every possible vote to get it through the house by offering many under-the-table-deals with energy producing states adding billions of dollars to the already tax laden legislation created in the worst recession in 80 years.
In fact, so much “arm twisting” of congress members was being performed up to the last minutes before the vote that an additional 300 pages tied to the overall cost were distributed to the house floor at 5 AM Friday. There was nowhere near enough time for congress to properly read the newest provisions added at the last minute to “fence sitting” members to vote yea on the bill.
Thus, by the smallest of margins, Obama fulfilled his promise his promise to the liberal left which will in effect cripple American industry to compete with foreign markets due to excessive new taxes as the only major participant nation attempting to fight toxic pollution alone and not as a world body.
It is the latest sordid chapter of the Obama Administration’s strong armed tactics to provide the necessary votes for Administration sponsored house bills.
It wasn’t so many months ago that Senator McCain and Obama were falling all over each other promising “no more earmarks” in house bills and the promise to “cut the pork” out.
But, from the beginning of Obama’s administration, even the most vocal of his opposition have admitted they have had little time to read the stimulus bills thrust upon them in the early months. These are bills that will create the kind of debt in this country that will last generations, if ever paid at all. The latest bill has more pork provisions than any other ever seen in Washington.
This is a bill that many legislators and economy experts say will send millions more jobs overseas due to the added taxes on American industry as well as increasing rather than decreasing unemployment as argued by the Obama people: One of the bill’s main positive economic features.
But what was curious about such an important piece of legislation for the Democrats was the almost invisible presence of President Obama himself. He has a curious way of distancing himself from causes that appear shaky at best in their outcome. It is unthinkable to have a situation where the very pro-Obama press would be “forced” to actually report his ideas slipping out of national favor..
So concerned was Obama about just that situation beginning to surface with the latest polls that he called a daytime press conference to address his critics. The White House planted people in the press conference to ask “friendly questions”.
Could this bill be the foundation for a Republican comeback in off-year elections and the 2012 presidential election? Will the details of this massively expensive experiment in energy conservation be Obama’s Waterloo? Will the American public accept electric bills that average 78% higher and gas increases of 51%?
Time will tell, but many critics say that the vote was in actuality a referendum on Nancy Pelosi’s house leadership since the Democrat’s took control of Congress. The close vote may reflect the growing uneasiness of the House majority.
And now, the Senate seeing the thin margin of victory for the Demos may think twice before voting for a huge tax increase at a time of double digit inflation and massive home foreclosures.
It remains to be seen if Senator Barbara Boxer of California can convince a majority of Senators that a vote for this legislation is a smart move politically in a climate of uncertainty about jobs and the survival of many industries following such a massive tax increase.
After an entire campaign built on the premise of no new taxes for any American making under $250,000, this bill may prove to be a much harder sell in the Senate. They will have the luxury of actually having the time to review the costs and the promised benefits.
President Obama would be well served if his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel found some books covering Napoleon and the Battle of Waterloo.
Representative Pelosi and Senator Boxer can easily afford such a huge tax increase as two of the richest politicians in Washington. But will the American people buy into this bill after reading the fine print including those 11th hour 300 pages?
The Obama “honeymoon” appears to be over. The real presidency is just beginning.
Buckle up. But have faith.
If this abortion of a bill passes in the Senate, it’ll be the FIRST thing President Sarah overturns in 2012/13 and she will be drilling every square INCH of America thereafter to make us self-sufficient. :)
I’ve already found out that Silvestre Reyes, my representing congressman, voted for this bill. What is funny is I called both the El Paso office and his D.C. office and the El Paso office said most of the calls have been against it and that they would be conveying that to Congressman Reyes. Guess what was said by the D.C. office? Thats right, most of the calls were in favor of it. Needless to say, I will be pushing to have Reyes removed from office in the next election. Not that I’m surprised by any of this.
I wholeheartedly support controls on carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is a different matter.
Come on opinion writers -- at least get the name of the gas you wish to regulate correct. Jeez...
I know the Marxist DemocRATS love to embellish but where the hell does the "security" come in?
Thanks for the article.
8 slimey Repubs were bought off to vote for this monstrosity or it would not even have passed the House.
Those names will live in infamy - especially Bono of California - for SHAME!
“The real presidency is just beginning”....or just ending?
Come on opinion writers -- at least get the name of the gas you don't want regulated correct.
Words don’t mean anything any more. It’s the thought that counts.
Do you know which 8 RINOs it was?
Never mind, I found it:
Mary Bono Mack (Calif); Michael Castle (Del); Mark Steven Kirk (Ill); Leonard Lance (NJ); Frank LoBiondo (NJ); John McHugh (NJ); Dave Reichert (Wash) and Chris Smith (NJ).
Well, "for the children" was considered to have been over-used at the time they dreamed up this title.
My congressman, Cooper, was not even accepting calls in his DC office. Apparently he didn’t want to hear what we had to say about it.
Or! The Bammies figure we’ll be a lot safer out on the streets if we don’t have any money in our pockets.
Taxation without representation.
I guess I just expect more from the Republicans. Silly me.
This is about money, pure and simple. The same old players are positioned to profit massively from the instant bubble created by carbon credits, and they ain’t gonna be disappointed. They never are. Treating this like it’s a poltical issue that we somehow hold sway over as voters is simply missing the point.
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