Subject: S.3036 (Lieberman/Warner Climate Security Act)

Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 5/20/2008)

Title: A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, and for other purposes.

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Dear Senator Cornyn:

You will soon be voting on S. 3036, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008. I urge you to oppose this bill and the dramatic increases in energy costs and the government's control over my daily life that it would impose!

This legislation is a cap-and-trade plan that attempts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. But what it really will do is place severe regulatory burdens on domestic industry, impede trade, and harm the nation's economy.

Cap-and-trade is nothing more than a hidden tax, as the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that this bill would raise costs on energy use by $1.2 trillion by 2018.

S. 3036 significantly grows the government by giving more power to bureaucrats, such as requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a greenhouse gas (GHG) registry, create a GHG emission allowance transfer system, and set emission allowances for 2012-2050. New agencies the legislation would create include the Climate Change Credit Corporation, which will auction emission allowances, and the Carbon Market Efficiency Board, which will observe and report on the national GHG emission market.

This government expansion will eventually dictate every aspect of commercial and individual energy use. Ultimately, the cap-and-trade system will be open to manipulation, with politicians and bureaucrats picking winners and losers in the energy market.

Some argue that cap-and-trade is environmentalism. But this kind of environmentalism is nothing more than an elite command-and-control system that will kill prosperity.

Again, I urge you to reject S.3036.

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Climate Change Bill Stymied  (posted by: Tom Pelton-June 06,2008)

After being filibustered by Republicans, a landmark global warming pollution control bill failed in the Senate today by a vote of 48-36. Sixty votes were needed to move the measure forward.

McCain wrote: “Global climate change is the most important environmental challenge facing not only our nation, but the entire world. I am confident that given the will, the federal government can be a lead advocate for ensuring that America is doing its part to reduce global warming, and join in the global effort that is needed to address this world-wide environmental issue.

Like many of my colleagues, I believe this legislation needs to be debated, amended, improved, and ultimately, enacted. While my schedule precludes me from being in Washington, DC, tomorrow to cast my vote, if I were able, I would vote to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment.

Unfortunately, despite the commitment and tireless efforts of the bill sponsors, Senators Lieberman and Warner, it appears that for now, the Senate, at the direction of the Majority Leader, will choose to put politics above policy, and Congress will fail to act yet again on this critical issue. But rest assured, we will not give up until we finally succeed in enacting needed, comprehensive cap and trade legislation to address this urgent problem.”

Senator Obama wrote: "I have a unanimous consent request that I may have printed in the Record a statement of Senator Barack Obama which says if he were able to be present, he would vote to invoke cloture. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows: Madam President, I will not be present for tomorrow's cloture vote on the substitute amendment to the climate change bill (S. 3036). However, were I able to be present, I would vote to invoke cloture. Thank you."

Permalink:  http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/blog/2008/06/climate_change_bill_stymied.html

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This week Senator Cornyn played a key role in defeating the Boxer Climate Tax Bill – a bill that several analysts say would have a particularly devastating effect on Texas. The proposed legislation would cost $6.7 trillion, subvert the U.S. and Texas economies, and amount to a government takeover of our energy and manufacturing sectors.

Given the current energy crisis Americans are facing, the Boxer bill could increase gasoline prices by 147 percent from current levels – bringing them close to $10 per gallon. It could also increase already-high electricity prices by 145 percent, cause a $52.2 billion loss to the Texas economy, prompt the loss of 334,600 jobs in Texas, and impose $8,015 in new annual expenses on the average Texas household.

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Contact:


MARC MORANO (202) 224-5762 

marc_morano@epw.senate.gov 

  
MATT DEMPSEY (202) 224-9797 

matt_dempsey@inhofe.senate.gov



Inhofe Amendments to Climate Tax Bill:


Files Amendments to Protect Truckers and Small Businesses 

from Higher Diesel Prices and to Promote Smart Nuclear Policy. 


WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), 


Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works


Committee,today filed four amendments to S. 3036, the


Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (Climate Tax bill).


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) made the decision


to fill the amendment tree and file cloture on the Climate


Tax Bill, thus allowing no amendments to be voted on.
Reference Link:    http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN03036:@@@L&summ2=m&#cosponsors