Published: July 01, 2009 10:12 am      

Congressman determined to stop cap and trade

By Clint Sloan

Staff Writer



ADA — An Oklahoma congressman is determined to stop what he calls an unnecessary energy tax on the American people.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, also known as "cap and trade," Friday and said it is one of the worst pieces of legislation he has ever seen.

“To do this at a time of economic strain is outrageous,” Cole said. “It punishes carbon-based energy such as coal, oil and natural gas. Why do we want to punish these people?”

Pres. Obama said the bill would cause industries that use carbon-based energy to restructure. This would cost the companies money, which would be passed on to consumers.

There is a provision in the bill that would create the Energy Refund Program, which would attempt to help low-income families who are struggling with this increased cost of energy accrued under this legislation. Cole said the program would not work.

“I don’t think that’s nearly efficient,” he said. “A lot of poor people never know they could apply for this. I don’t think we should be raising the cost of energy for any American.”

By raising energy prices, Cole said Oklahomans would have a disadvantage compared to states that do not consist of large rural populations.

“Our people drive a long way to work,” he said. “We get disproportionately punished because of our location.”

Cole also said the bill would send jobs overseas to countries that do not have strict environmental regulations. But Obama insists that even though some jobs may be lost, new clean-energy jobs will be available here at home. Cole said this would not be true for one industry needed for the U.S. to achieve energy independence.

“The bill mandates how much renewable power these utility companies need to produce,” Cole said. “They don’t count nuclear power as renewable.”

Besides the bill not including nuclear power, Cole said it is concerning to create a vast government policy to combat “unproven science.”

“We’re not sure that global warming is caused primarily by carbon-based energy,” he said. “We need to be very careful.”

The Democratically-controlled Congress seems to be very discrete with what is drafted in the energy bill, Cole said.

“Besides it being a bad 1200-page bill, the Democrats dropped a 300-page amendment at 3 in the morning,” he said. “That amendment never went through committee.”

This would not allow anyone to read what was contained in the legislation before the bill was voted on Friday evening, Cole said. And the Senate will have to try even harder to get it through.

“I think we won the argument in the House,” Cole said.

The bill narrowly passed the House with a 219-212 vote. Eight Republicans voted in favor of the measure while 40 Democrats voted against it, signaling the bill may have a hard time becoming law.

“I think we’ll beat it in the U.S. Senate,” Cole said.

Even though lawmakers may need to address how to make the country energy independent, Cole suggests this bill is not the answer.

“Instead of making carbon-based energy more expensive, let’s make non-carbon energy less expensive,” Cole said. “Let’s not destroy an industry that we need.”

Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, both R-Okla., are expected to vote against the measure. To express an opinion of this bill, one may phone Jim Inhofe at 202-224-4721, or Tom Coburn at 202-224-5754. Senate leadership may also be contacted by phoning the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at 202-224-3542.