A bill is in the works that really concerns me called the Cap and Trade Bill. Read into it and see if anything concerns you. First, a definition of cap and trade. Wikipedia says that it is, “Emissions trading (or emission trading) is an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. It is sometimes called cap and trade.” So, basically, the government sets a “cap” on how much pollutants we can put into the air. Then, people can use more only by buying more credits from those who use less. Therein lies the “trade”. Sounds good so far, right? Well, the federal government is slick about this. Knowing that it is hip to be an environmentalist it’s a good bill to hide behind. What are they hiding? Yes! You got it, MORE TAXES!

Americans are protesting taxes all over this country. There are 1,273 registered TEA Party tax protests going on in the country this July 4th and yet, Nancy Pelosi and minions are trying to force a floor vote for this cap-and-trade Carbon Tax to hit the House this Friday? Another bill that is not going to get read and that is going to be strongarmed into being passed. Americans can’t take too many more taxes. We are over-taxed and in a recession. What is this going to do to us?

As Harvard’s Martin Feldstein wrote in the Wall Street Journal, “Anyone who drives a car, uses public transportation, consumes electricity or buys any product that involves creating CO2 in its production would face higher prices.” Basically, that is ALL of us. Tighten your belts, America, we are headed for the hugest tax bill of them all and not a single one of us is safe.

Let’s see if it works. Europe already has a similiar program in place. Yet, they are failing to meet their goals of carbon reductions by 10-20%. Not only that but they are actually releasing more CO2 then the United States who as of yet has not instated this bill. “The EU emissions trading scheme is one of the worst possible models to study,” said Iain Murray, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. “It hasn’t worked at all. All it has done is raise the price of energy to consumers without having any effect on emissions. Meanwhile the utilities have enjoyed windfall profits. In essence, what they have done is legalized a cartel.” We can’t afford to give any more of our money to our government. Our return is not good on our investment.

Here is the real catch though. “An analysis of this legislation cited during a Senate hearing held by the Committee on Environment and Public Works estimated the costs to the average American household would be between $800 and $1,300 by 2015, and then increasing to $1,500 to $2,500 by 2050.” We can’t afford to let this pass. We need to call, write, beg our representatives to listen to us. This cannot go through. We are not being allowed to keep our hard earned money. Join us in the fight on July 4th at a local TEA Party all across the nation. Let’s make our representatives represent us! Keep up the good fight!