Cap & Trade: Stop This Plague!!!

Eeeegads! The House just passed the Waxman-Markey "Cap & Trade" bill! The Dems' victory, however, came with a tough battle from the Republicans -- 219-212. All but 30 Dems voted for the bill; but all of the GOPs reps voted against it. Now, the bill is headed for the Senate.

Here's what the AP reported (source) -- emphasis added:

House Passes Milestone Energy, Climate Change Bill

WASHINGTON -- The Democratic-controlled House, dealing a legislative victory to President Obama, narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that calls for the nation's first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy.

The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs.

The House's action fulfilled Speaker Nancy Pelosi's vow to clear major energy legislation before July 4, and sent the measure to a highly uncertain fate in the Senate.

... Al Gore posted a statement on his Web site saying the measure represents "an essential first step towards solving the climate crisis." ...

On the House floor, Democrats hailed the legislation as historic, while Republicans said it would damage the economy without solving the nation's energy woes.

It is "the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of our country," said Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts. "It sets a new course for our country, one that steers us away from foreign oil and towards a path of clean American energy."

But Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican leader, used an extraordinary one-hour speech shortly before the final vote to warn of unintended consequences in what he said was a "defining bill." He called it a "bureaucratic nightmare" that would cost jobs, depress real estate prices and put the government into parts of the economy where it now has no role.

The legislation would require the U.S. to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and by about 80 percent by mid-century. That was slightly more aggressive than Obama originally wanted, 14 percent by 2020 and the same 80 percent by mid-century ...

Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants and issue allowances for polluters. Most of the allowances would be given away, but about 15 percent would be auctioned by bid and the proceeds used to defray higher energy costs for lower-income individuals and families ...

The final bill also contained concessions to satisfy farm-state lawmakers, ethanol producers, hydroelectric advocates, the nuclear industry and others, some of them so late that they were not made public until 3 a.m. on Friday.

Supporters and opponents agreed the result would be higher energy costs but disagreed vigorously on the impact on consumers. ...

If you interested in seeing who voted how, go here. Also, here's an interesting article about the Australian legislature considering abolishing its carbon emissions plans due to growing numbers of scientists and politicians questioning the "science" of human-caused global warming.

Sadly, many of the proponents point to Europe as a model for the U.S. to follow, ignoring some of the problems Europe has faced with its attempts to limit green house gases. Go here and here to see Cap & Trade has not been all sweetness and light for the Europeans.

Go here for 15 reasons for opposing Cap & Trade.

I recommend contacting your senators ASAP. Go here for contact info.