The Wall Street Journal has this on the extreme folly of the recently passed Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade scheme and the political rent-seeking orgy that was involved:
Meanwhile, Congress had to bribe every business or interest that could afford a competent lobbyist. Carbon permits are valuable, yet the House says only 28% of the allowances would be auctioned off; the rest would be given away. In March, White House budget director Peter Orszag told Congress that “If you didn’t auction the permit, it would represent the largest corporate welfare program that has ever been enacted in the history of the United States.”
The good folks at OpposingViews.com — a great site you must check out — have taken some of our thoughts on where our nation is going with respect to capitalism. We argue “Democrats are dressing up socialism in free market clothes” and relate it to last week’s global warming bill:
This climate bill hides its extensive costs behind the veneer of free market rhetoric. The scheme’s proponents have long known Americans are unlikely to support a massive new energy tax – especially in this hard economic time — so they claim this government-imposed cap on greenhouse gas emissions isn’t a tax. Instead, backers argue, it’s a system through which credits can be bought or sold in a market function.
But the emissions market wouldn’t be free at all; lawmakers have already begun to rig the program, picking winners and losers and earmarking favored industries who would, in the case of the House bill, get their emission credits free of charge.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman lifted the veil on the political strategy behind cap-and-trade, explaining that legislators’ affinity for the bill was derived from the fact that it “doesn’t use the word ‘tax’ — even though it amounts to one.”
Thanks to OpposingViews.com for the chance to share our thoughts with a sizable audience.
Despite a great effort, a largely-Democratic effort squeaked through a successful vote on economy-crashing global warming language Friday. IBD has reason for hope, though, arguing the picture is much rosier in the Senate:
Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma is confident that Waxman-Markey will die in the Senate, and House GOP Leader John Boehner of Ohio sees an unfortunate precedent for the Democrats in this bill.
Early in the Clinton administration, the House passed by an almost identical 219-213 vote the infamous Btu tax — a levy on each unit of energy consumed. The tax would have been assessed on the energy content of all fossil fuels as measured in Btu, or British thermal units.It died in the Senate and was used as a campaign issue as the GOP regained control of the House for the first time in 40 years.
Far from being morose, the GOP mood after Friday’s vote was almost giddy. “On the floor, it felt like we won,” said Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma. After the final gavel fell, Republicans were chanting, “Btu, Btu.”
“A lot of Democrat members got burned on that vote,” Boehner said. Something tells us they, and eight Republicans, may get burned on this one too.
“Cap and trade only costs a postage stamp a day,” seemed to be the sound bite of choice last week among Waxman-Markey advocates. Of course, numbers from Heritage Foundation and CRA International paint a much grimmer picture for middle American families. Here’s this week’s cartoon:
As we’ve noted, yesterday brought the troubling news that Members of the House of Representatives narrowly passed the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill.
Some have called it the largest tax increase in U.S. history, and some have called it an economic suicide note. The policy of cap-and-trade is indeed disastrous, and for whatever their reason, here is the quick list of House Members who voted to raise your taxes and take a sledgehammer to our economy.
It may be worth asking them why:
Neil Abercrombie voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gary Ackerman voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Adler (NJ) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Rob Andrews voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Joe Baca voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Brian Baird voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Tammy Baldwin voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Melissa Bean voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Xavier Becerra voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Shelly Berkley voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Howard Berman voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Rob Bishop (GA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Tim Bishop (NY) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Earl Blumenauer voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Boccieri voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mary Bono Mack voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Leonard Boswell voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Rick Boucher voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Allen Boyd voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Robert Brady (PA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bruce Braley (IA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Corrine Brown voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
G.K. Butterfield voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Lois Capps voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Michael Capuano voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dennis Cardoza voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Russ Carnahan voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Andre Carson (IN) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mike Castle voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Kathy Castor (FL) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ben Chandler voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Yvette Clarke voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Lacy Clay voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Emanuel Cleaver voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
James Clyburn voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Steve Cohen voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gerry Connolly (VA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Conyers voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jim Cooper voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Joe Courtney voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Joseph Crowley voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Henry Cuellar voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Elijah Cummings voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Susan Davis (CA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Danny Davis (IL) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Diana DeGette voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bill Delahunt voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Rosa DeLauro voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Norm Dicks voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Dingell voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Horace Doggett voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mike Doyle voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Steve Driehaus voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Donna Edwards (MD) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Keith Ellison voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Eliot Engel voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Anna Eshoo voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bob Etheridge voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Sam Farr voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Chaka Fattah voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bob Filner voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Barney Frank (MA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Marcia Fudge voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gabrielle Giffords voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Charles Gonzalez voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bart Gordon (TN) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Alan Grayson voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Al Green voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gene Green voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Raul Grijalva voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Luis Gutierrez voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Hall (NY) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Halvorson voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Phil Hare voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jane Harman voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Deborah Heinrich voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Brian Higgins voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Baron Hill voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jim Himes voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Maurice Hinchey voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ruben Hinojosa voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mazie Hirono voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Paul Hodes voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Rush Holt voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mike Honda voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Stenny Hoyer voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jay Inslee voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Steve Israel voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jess Jackson (IL) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Sheil Jackson-Lee (TX) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Hank Johnson (GA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
E. B. Johnson voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Steve Kagen voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Paul Kanjorski voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Marcy Kaptur voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Patrick Kennedy voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dale Kildee voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mary Jo Kilroy voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ron Kind voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Steven Kirk voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ron Klein (FL) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Suzanne Kosmas voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Frank Kratovil voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Leonard Lance voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jim Langevin voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Rick Larsen (WA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Larson (CT) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Barbara Lee (CA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Sander Levin voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Lewis (GA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Daniel Lipinski voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Frank LoBiondo voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dave Loebsack voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Zoe Lofgren voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Nita Lowey voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ray Luján voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Stephen Lynch voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dan Maffei voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Carolyn Maloney voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Betsy Markey (CO) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ed Markey (MA) authored the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Doris Matsui voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Carolyn McCarthy (NY) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Betty McCollum voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jim McDermott voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
James McGovern voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John McHugh voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Michael McMahon voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jerry McNerney voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Kendrick Meek (FL) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gregory Meeks (NY) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Michael Michaud voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Brad Miller (NC) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
George Miller voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dennis Moore (KS) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gwen Moore (WI) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jim Moran (VA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Chris Murphy (CT) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Scott Murphy (NY) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Patrick Murphy voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Murtha voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jerrold Nadler (NY) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Grace Napolitano voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Richard Neal (MA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
James Oberstar voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
David Obey voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Olver voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Frank Pallone voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bill Pascrell voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ed Pastor (AZ) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Payne voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Nancy Pelosi voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ed Perlmutter voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Tom Perriello voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Gary Peters voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Collin Peterson voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Chellie Pingree (ME) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jared Polis (CO) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
David Price (NC) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Thomas Quigley voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Charlie “Ethics” Rangel voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dave Reichert voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Silvestre Reyes voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Laura Richardson voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Steve Rothman (NJ) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Lucille Roybal-Allard voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dutch Ruppersberger voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bobby Rush voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Tim Ryan (OH) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Linda Sánchez voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Loretta Sanchez voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Sarbanes voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jan Schakowsky voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mark Schauer voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Adam Schiff voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Kurt Schrader voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Allyson Schwartz voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
David Scott (GA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bobby Scott (VA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jose Serrano voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Joe Sestak voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Carol Shea-Porter voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Brad Sherman voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Heath Shuler voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Albio Sires voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Ike Skelton voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Louise Slaughter voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Chris Smith (NJ) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Adam Smith (WA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Vic Snyder voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Zack Space voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Jackie Speier voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Spratt voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bart Stupak voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Betty Sutton voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Elaine Tauscher voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Harry Teague voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Mike Thompson (CA) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Bennie Thompson (MS) voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Tierney voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Dina Titus voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Paul Tonko voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Edolphus Towns voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Niki Tsongas voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Chris Van Hollen voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Nydia Velázquez voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Tim Walz voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Debbie Wasserman Schultz voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Maxine Waters voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Diane Watson voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Melvin Watt voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Henry Waxman authored the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Anthony Weiner voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Peter Welch voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Robert Wexler voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
Lynn Woolsey voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
David Wu voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
John Yarmuth voted for the largest tax increase in U.S. history
