POLITICAL ARGUMENT:

The sun is responsible for all our pollution problems. After all, people couldn’t live without the sun and because we’re here, this planet is going to the dogs. In fact, if it weren’t for these twelve hour reprieves at night, it’d probably be all over by now. Therefore we must tax the sunlight.

POLITICAL REALITY:

It takes as much concentrated effort to be stupid as it does to be logical.

(…with thanks to James Childress)

On late Friday afternoon, the House narrowly passed HR 2454, otherwise known as the “Climate Bill.” So, what does this mean to the average taxpayer? According to the WSJ :

“The 1,200 page bill — formally known as the “American Clean Energy and Security Act” — will reach into almost every corner of the U.S. economy. By putting a price on emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, the bill would affect the way electricity is generated, how homes and offices are designed, how foreign trade is conducted and how much Americans pay to drive cars or to heat their homes.”

The government will accomplish this by “cap and trade”…

Basically, the “CAP” is an enforceable limit imposed on companies on the amount of greenhouse gas pollution in can emit. Companies that generates pollution above the allowable emission standard will have to purchase permits from the government to cover the excess. Over time, the limits become stricter, allowing less and less pollution, until the ultimate reduction goal is met. The “TRADE” occurs as companies that have an easier time reducing their emissions, sell their extra permits to companies that can’t make reductions as easily.

Supposedly, this provides a large and dependable revenue stream as the government auctions emissions permits to the companies required to reduce their emissions. To the delight of our growing government, I’m sure it will! However, more money for the government will mean less money for the average taxpayer, as companies pass the cost of the emission permits onto consumers. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the energy cost for the average American household will rise $175 per year!

Cap and Trade is a covert energy tax and amounts to nothing more than environmental extortion.

MORE: Michelle Malkin: “The 8 cap-and-tax Republicans…and the 44 Democrats who voted no”; Hot Air: “Video: Boehner slaps down Waxman, filibusters cap and trade”; The Patriot’s Mind: “Cap & Trade Bill Passed in the House – Cap & Poverty Here We Come!”; Veer Right: “Cap and Trade Debacle”; Wintery Knight Blog: “Counting the cost of the Waxma-Markey Energy Tax”; Webloggin: “Returning To The Dark Ages”