Comments on: Whitehouse: Senate Is Corrupted By Carbon Pollution Cash http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/12/whitehouse-senate-pollution/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:42:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Craig http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/12/whitehouse-senate-pollution/comment-page-1/#comment-153243 Craig Wed, 13 May 2009 18:39:52 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/?p=10245#comment-153243 Larry, Vanessa is absolutely right. If major polluters are so certain that the costs can be passed on to consumers, then why the $80 million in lobbying. The congress could require 100 percent sale of the pollution allowances just as the Obama administration advocates. The revenue generated by this sale could then be used to shelter consumers from higher energy prices. That is inherently the most equitable path to follow. Polluters pay. Polluters innovate. But that isn't going to happen. What is happening is yet another example of concentrated power in the private sector dangerously warping public policy. Only in the case of climate change, unlike labor or health policy, the stakes are much higher. Larry,

Vanessa is absolutely right. If major polluters are so certain that the costs can be passed on to consumers, then why the $80 million in lobbying. The congress could require 100 percent sale of the pollution allowances just as the Obama administration advocates. The revenue generated by this sale could then be used to shelter consumers from higher energy prices. That is inherently the most equitable path to follow. Polluters pay. Polluters innovate. But that isn’t going to happen. What is happening is yet another example of concentrated power in the private sector dangerously warping public policy. Only in the case of climate change, unlike labor or health policy, the stakes are much higher.

]]> By: A Siegel http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/12/whitehouse-senate-pollution/comment-page-1/#comment-153236 A Siegel Wed, 13 May 2009 03:58:27 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/?p=10245#comment-153236 Larry Who is paying for and going to pay for the impacts of climate change? The consumers (the citizens) ... Oh, that's right, you probably don't believe in the scientific Theory of Global Warming and that it could impact our 6000 year old world. Larry

Who is paying for and going to pay for the impacts of climate change? The consumers (the citizens) …

Oh, that’s right, you probably don’t believe in the scientific Theory of Global Warming and that it could impact our 6000 year old world.

]]> By: Vanessa Williamson http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/12/whitehouse-senate-pollution/comment-page-1/#comment-153229 Vanessa Williamson Tue, 12 May 2009 21:01:02 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/?p=10245#comment-153229 If businesses weren't going to pay a dime if the legislation passes, why would they be spending so much money lobbying against it? These companies are lobbying for a reason -- it's a smart short-term investment for them to avoid reform. Of course, in the long run, maybe it would make sense for them to spend that money on innovation. If businesses weren’t going to pay a dime if the legislation passes, why would they be spending so much money lobbying against it? These companies are lobbying for a reason — it’s a smart short-term investment for them to avoid reform. Of course, in the long run, maybe it would make sense for them to spend that money on innovation.

]]> By: larrydalooza http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/05/12/whitehouse-senate-pollution/comment-page-1/#comment-153227 larrydalooza Tue, 12 May 2009 19:58:53 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/?p=10245#comment-153227 Businesses that sell power will not pay a dime... consumers will pay. You get what you pay for. Besides the demonizing of CO2 being BS, believing that business is bad will surely kill us all. Businesses that sell power will not pay a dime… consumers will pay. You get what you pay for. Besides the demonizing of CO2 being BS, believing that business is bad will surely kill us all.

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