Climate Change Bill Breakthrough Announced By Waxman, Markey

Roll Call:

Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have reached a deal on the most contentious aspects of cap-and-trade legislation for carbon emissions and plan to unveil the bill on Thursday, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said Tuesday night.

Read the whole story: Roll Call

Comments

[Richard2]

When you want to know about climate, maybe you should ask the physicists first, as they understand how the universe works, or geologists, who study the physical history of the earth. Or you should ask the astronomers who study the sun, which has a huge influence on the earth.

It is fair to say that no one, even with the largest supercomputer in the world, can predict with any accuracy what the temperature of any city in the world will be even one year from now. The English Metro office tries to predict the summer and winter weather for London each year, using long range global warming climate models, and each year they get it wrong, wrong, wrong.

People should be asking more questions of physicists, geologists and atronomers, and less questions to climate alarmists.

[realpolitic]

Nice try, Richard, but even the people who study the sun say: "Our results show that the observed rapid rise in global mean temperatures seen after 1985 cannot be ascribed to solar variability, whichever of the mechanisms is invoked and no matter how much the solar variation is amplified." In other words, "analysis of solar trends concludes that the sum of natural changes in solar activity since 1985 would have cooled our climate, were it not for the strong warming effect of increased greenhouse gas concentrations." The article goes on to say: "Indeed, most climate scientists will hardly consider the findings particularly new or surprising."

http://publishing.royalsociety.org/media/proceedings_a/rspa20071880.pdf

http://blogs.nature.com/climatefeedback/2007/07/sun_not_a_cause_of_global_warm.html

Who are you going to say we should listen to next - the astrologers or maybe Rush Limbaugh? I am afraid Rush is the only one who will tell you what you want to hear- that climate change is a hoax!

[Mogamboguru]

People will only wake up from "Global Warming", when the growing glaciers will start k.i.c.k.i.n.g. .them out of their homes.

[VikingQuest]

And since that won't happen in our lifetime, people won't wake up.

BTW, I live in Minnesota and glaciers woud have kicked up out of our homes years ago being that we would be under 100s of feet of ice . . . glad they melted.

[IsisCat]

Jesus, you're weird.

[vie2012ne]

What do you have against Jesus, calling him weird?

[realpolitic]

Wow, you look like an intelligent guy, until one reads your posts. Well, you know what they say about looks being deceiving!

[Mogamboguru]

exhale09 I'm a Fan of exhale09 I'm a fan of this user permalink

Well okay then THAT settles it. Lets just continue to pay our hard earned $$ to the likes of Middle Eastern country sheiks who hate us, so they can live in opulence while oppressing their people, and to the likes of Hugo Chevez...because Climate Change is unproven.
What better way is there to spend our tax dollars then on wars for oil? WHO cares that American soldiers die to protect our Fossil Fuel OIL interests across the globe.
__________________________________

Did I say that?

No, I didn't say that.

I can save fuel WITHOUT wrapping it into a .l.i.e.

Why do you have to resort to pr.opa.gan.da to sell something which is inherently good in itself?good?

Saving the planet is a value in itself. I don't need it to be wrap.ped into fal.se pro.pa.ga.nda, to support that.

St.op na.me-cal.ling and start thi.nking on your own, ple.ase.

[IsisCat]

Stop obsfucating the facts, and start using actual science to back yourself up. But you can't because climate change is happening and scientists almost uniformly think so.

When the royal academies of science start to back you up, I'll give some credence to your thoughts. Meantime, you're not helping your alleged desire to clean up the planet, but denying one of the biggest and clearest ecological threats in our lifetime.

[marbou]

Of course IsisCat, climate change is happening. It's never the same in 2 consecutive years. You don't even need actual science to figure that out. Actual science, you talk a lot about it but you don't apply it anywhere.

[rbspickles]

So, why have we been paying millions a year for the EPA??? Wasn't this the EPA's job?

[hark]

Warning: the trolls are out, and they are absolutely incoherent.

[VikingQuest]

I agree, maybe you can elaborate on the outcome of this bill and how our climate will be different. I'll wait for your answer and please be specific on what our temps will be.

[GardenerNorCal]

Cap and trade is going to be very expensive. Are we in a position to increase day to day expenses for the average citizen?

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090423/testimony_bassett.pdf

"We'd expect the potential costs to consumers to be even higher for this legislation than for previous proposals. Unlike previous climate change or renewable energy proposals, the bill combines traditional regulation with trading programs. The bill contains mandates for renewable energy and for energy efficiency. It has regulatory standards for new power plants. It has a new federal gasoline standard. And it has a cap and trade program to address greenhouse gases.

think it is fair to say that no one knows precisely how all these overlapping measures will compound the costs to consumers, but the economic impact could be daunting.

As a general point, the cost-assumptions data behind the Waxman-Markey proposal must be updated. Four of the most respected national consumer organizations testified recently before the House Ways and Means Committee that the assumptions regarding impacts on household incomes and budgets were based on 30-year-old modeling that must be updated before climate policy can be adopted.7 In addition, the former head of the Energy Information Administration, Guy Caruso, has recently stated that EIA data and models are in serious need of updating as well. Despite large increases in anticipated DOE budget outlays, no additional funding has been allocated to update EIA data.8."

[VikingQuest]

The bottom line is it is going to be expensive, some of you might have seen a segment ripping the GOP for using the $3100 number a couple weeks back when an MIT Prof ran the numbers . . . the MIT Prof came back and said he was wrong, the real number per family will be $3800 per year.

[Jamie Kowalski]

When you want to know about plumbing, ask a plumber. Ballet dancing? ask a ballerina.

It only stands to reason that when it comes to climate debate, we need to listen to CLIMATE SCIENTISTS-- those out on the ice conducting studies, not the ones borrowing data, pointing at charts, and trying to pick them apart without a clear understanding of their meaning.

CLIMATE SCIENTISTS are the only experts here. And CLIMATE SCIENTISTS agree on global warming.

The dissent comes mostly from people who have no understanding of climate science. Example: weather reporters ARE NOT CLIMATE SCIENTISTS.

I have read hundreds upon hundreds of pages of science and speculation on this subject, and almost every single paper denying climate change has has the following three qualities:
1. Funded by ExxonMobil, either directly or indirectly
2. No new scientific study, only other people's charts, and their personal interpretation
3. Not written by a climate scientist.

It's unbelievable this is still a debate. You hear a funny knock in your car, CALL YOUR MECHANIC. For climate info, CALL A CLIMATE SCIENTIST. Or just go out and pick up a copy of National Geographic, Smithsonian, Discovery Magazine, or Scientific American, and read for yourself what scientists are saying. Article after article with new studies, new models, new missions of discovery, and every single one of them adding to the overwhelming pile of evidence that climate change is real, and that we are pushing it much further than nature would take it naturally.

[sc300nc]

Some scientists do say that, others do not. There are two sides to every story. Isn't this what makes this country great, free and open debate? Stick to your beliefs, I'll stick to mine, we'll see how it all plays out. BTW, I thought you weren't calling it global warming anymore, since polling shows that doesn't play well with the populace.

[Jamie Kowalski]

Thank you for not reading my post.

It's easy enough to say "some agree, some don't," but you certainly aren't talking about climate scientists with that claim. Why don't you just show me ONE study done by a non-Exxon paid CLIMATE scientist who agrees with you?

[donttasemebro]

Pat Buchanan just said on MSNBC that the way for the GOP to come back is to claim that "global warming is a crock". His words exactly. They just don't get it, do they?

[VikingQuest]

I guess not, think about the cap & trade bill for a minute . . .

What will it actually do for "man made global warming"?

- Will it change our climate? Nope
- Will it put more of a strain on every business here? Yes

Cap & Trade doesn't limit emissions, it limits them here and basically shifts the emissions from here to let's say China. No one doubts it will be a massive tax increase, not even Obama.

[theone718]

No wonder Repubs hate Government. They never do anything good while they are in charge while Dems get MAJOR things done in just 1 year. Go figure...

[DesertDogAlpha]

Retreat! What a joke. Coal is by far the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases (CO2 primarily) and global warming. So what do they want to do. Subsidize coal and coal-fired utilities by giving them free allowances. Rep. Rick Boucher is from a district where coal mining is the biggest industry so when he says he's happy you know where we're going.

Hold on to your wallets and get ready for a warm, but politically expedient future.

[VikingQuest]

And coal is also our biggest energy source so do you think it might be a smart idea to actually have something in place before you jack up the energy prices on coal?

[IsisCat]

That's why they need to invest in available renewable technologies ASAP and put a tax on carbon at the same time. Then the real cost of carbon, which at the moment is externalised, would drive growth in a new clean economy.

There are jobs in going green. The environment v's economy debate is dead in the water when you look at the actual facts and the opportunities to be had.

[Roxie74]

You know who the chief spokesperson is for the Climate Change Movement? David de Mayer ROTHSCHILD! Yes, from the same wonderful family that financıally backed both sides of every major war for the past two centuries. Yes, of course they would devise a scheme to tax you under the guise of environmentalism, making their house even wealthier! You,ve been had, now grow and admit it or get your KY jelly ready for the global taxatıon!

[IsisCat]

Erm the who now?

[Roxie74]

Climate change was created and sponsored by international banking families as a ruse to infiltrate the environmental movement and use it to collect a variety of onerous taxes through natiıonal central banks around the world. Also allows corporations like Enron and Wall Street banks to cultivate fake partnerships with green orgs like Greenpeace and World Wildlıfe Fund, strictly for the purpose of envıronmental profit! Sort of like the one Al Gore has large stock in to get large contracts under the guise of savıng the environment. No wonder why Gore says the time for the debate on climate change is over, I guess his pockets are itching. Treadly iıghtly on this people, this is more scam than humanitarian.

[rabiddog6708]

Remove your tinfoil hat and absorb the rays, l00n.

[hark]

I think they might have a pill for your problem.

[chicago25624]

Get readyamerica here come higher prices. Complimentsofthe lefturdsthat willt.a.x. you to de ath, and then taxyour family after you d.i.e.

[ohiomark]

Yea!!!!

Higher taxes, higher prices and higher unemployment for everyone............all over a hoax.

Get over yourselves Libs, you can't change or control the climate, just adapt.

[chocolatecity]

Even if you don't believe in global warming, don't you want clean air? You don't think the amount of carbon we put in the air has an effect on the rate of people with asthma and other respiratory problems? How can America have this big an argument over whether or not we need clean air. Astounding.

[ohiomark]

This is NOT about clean air and you know it. I love clean air and water, I use them everyday. The air in the United States is cleaner than any other industialized country in the world. This is about control and taxes.

By the way, a slightly warmer planet might yeild more food for all the starving people around the world. That's is, if we stop paying farmers to NOT grow food.

[islandchris]

Adapt to a hoax?
I thought I was missing something here - then I realized, you probably thought Iraq had WMD, and investing Social Security in the Stock Market was a sure bet.

[PierreLeClerke]

Ignorance is truly bliss. I don't know how old you are mark, but if your from Ohio, you can visit several cities that disprove your claim that humans don't effect climate. Of course that means you have to open your eyes, your nose, your lungs as well as your mind.
Wake up and smell reality. If local and regional climates have been altered by Man, for decades now, how much of a stretch is it for you to imagine that a closed system, like Earth's, could at long last be adversely impacted by short sighted, narrow minded, profit centered, self serving, burn and earn policies for profit?

[ohiomark]

I'm 45 and the climate has not changed in my lifetime. Many of the high temperature records that I see on the local TV weather are from the 1950's and earlier.

Let George Carlin give you some common sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eScDfYzMEEw

[realpolitic]

Ohio, do you just hate everyone? You sound like a misanthrope!

[vie2012ne]

how's the satan worship going, realpolitic?

[sc300nc]

Cap and trade is just a ruse for increased revenue (the Dems word for taxes) which we all will be paying. More change you can believe in.

[joebaggadonuts]

Since you are used to getting your incompetent Republican government for free, any revenue generating proposal should make things better.

[sc300nc]

Further gov't control over our lives is never a good thing.