Cap and Trade Bill - Good or Bad for All of US?

Cap and Trade Bill – The Obamas Win!
A major victory for President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the House of Representatives passed the Cap and Trade bill (also known as climate change bill). But Republicans are mad about the national energy tax that they say would intensify the nation’s economic problems.
Cap and Trade Bill Votes – Who voted for Cap and Trade?
The Cap and Trade bill votes was extremely close – 219-212, with eight Republicans voting yes and 44 Democrats voting no. And the debate leading up to it was intense.
Rep. Geoff Davis, a Republican from Kentucky, said the cap-and-trade bill represented the “economic colonization of the heartland” by New York
California. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) called the bill a “scam” that would do nothing but satisfy “the twisted desires of radical environmentalists.”
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) called it a “massive transfer of wealth” from the United States to foreign countries.
Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio countered that, without the bill, the United States would remain energy-dependent on people who want to “fly planes into our buildings.”
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) told his colleagues that they had “a unique historical opportunity” to protect the nation’s national security, improve the environment and transform the economy. “Vote for this legislation,” Waxman said to applause from Democrats.
The Cap and Trade bill has made several debates as to what the bill may bring to the American People. Will it be good to many Americans, or will it just put additional sufferings to the poor? Many think that his bill is a gateway. They said the bill will be used as justification to regulate every industry or product the government can get their grimy little fingers on. Politicians get rich. Government gets more power and control. Businesses just pass on the cost, leaving only one looser: the consumer.
U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) questions the real environmental benefits of the measure and fears the cost to Texas families and small businesses.
“I have young children, so of course the environment matters. But this bill won’t impact the natural cycle of the earth’s temperature and will cost families dearly in higher utility bills, higher energy costs and nearly 200,000 lost jobs in Texas. With China, India and other nations refusing to participate, independent experts predict this bill will not yield any measurable environmental benefits.”
The congressman, who is the top House Republican on the Joint Economic Committee, says the jobs most at risk are here in southeast Texas in the energy, refining, paper, steel and agriculture industries. And because the products American companies sell and ship overseas will be especially hard hit by cap and trade, Texas as the largest exporting state in the nation is especially vulnerable.
“The biggest hit will be felt in southeast Texas, but you’ll see job losses reach every region of the state,” he predicts.
Brady (R-TX) shared his thoughts for a better solution.
“Instead of rushing this 1,200 page bill through the House with less than 24 hours to read it, a better solution is for Republicans and Democrats to get serious about increasing cleaner burning fuels like nuclear and natural gas, accelerating research into renewable energy and tapping America’s abundant traditional energy to transition to a greener future. That makes more sense, creates jobs and produces real environmental results without cap and trade’s devastating cost to families and businesses.”
Currently, the cap and tax legislation will cost each household in Texas an extra $3,128 per year and each person will be burdened with an extra $903 per year in taxes according to budget experts. The net job losses predicted for Texas are 197,000 according to the Heritage Foundation.