Consumers are good at telling when a company is pulling a bait and switch. That same critical eye should be used when Congress tries to sell the American people an ambitious proposal such as cap-and-trade.
Sure it may look environmentally conscious, but cap-and-trade has buyer beware written all over it.
Cap-and-trade is a bait and switch. It won’t cut green-house gas emissions or make America stronger with “green jobs.”
In reality, this plan would result in our unilateral economic disarmament by killing jobs at home and shipping them overseas. What cap-and-trade means for you is the imposition of a huge national energy tax that would charge you whenever you flip a light switch, buy food, take public transportation or fuel your car.
The average family in Pennsylvania would see a $3,100 jump in its annual electric bill through this national energy tax. Nationally, electricity rates would jump 90 percent; gas prices, 74 percent; and natural gas, 55 percent.
President Obama actually predicted this price spike last year when he said “electricity rates would naturally skyrocket” under cap-and-trade. No wonder 77 percent of those polled in a recent ABC survey were concerned by what the Democrats’ national energy tax actually means for their families.
If this energy tax is put into effect, between 2010 and 2035, the gross domestic product of the United States would drop by $9 trillion. This means our economy would shrink and unemployment would soar.
Close to a million jobs a year would be destroyed by the national energy tax and many of them would be lost in coal-rich Pennsylvania.
Obama and congressional Democrats know the national energy tax is a job killer. That’s why they spend so much time talking about how many “green jobs” their plan will create.
However, for every green job created, others are wiped out. Look at Spain – a leader in Europe’s green economy. For every “green job” created in Spain, 2.2 jobs are lost and only 1 in 10 of those “green jobs” ever becomes permanent.
If “green jobs” are the answer, as the Democrats say, why does Spain have one of Europe’s highest unemployment rates at more than 17 percent?
I am deeply concerned about the well-being of our environment, but we must be careful to make sensible decisions when it comes to massive regulatory changes to our economy.
Passing a national energy tax such as cap-and-trade would be disastrous for our economy, especially during a recession.
Losing more than a million jobs and forever altering the landscape of America is not the right decision for our future.
Cap-and-trade is not the answer.
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster’s 9th District includes parts of Cambria and Somerset counties.
Editorials
Related Photos
-
submitted photo
Discussion
National energy tax is not answer
- Editorials
-
-
Readers' Forum 2-9 | Find funds to heal returning soldiers
The article, “Military finds troops ailing; problems create health care backlog,” published Feb. 2 by USA Today, impressed me so profoundly that I just can’t keep myself from bringing it to your attention.
-
Take in a high school play
“Peter Pan” has already done a flyby at Windber Area High School.
-
Readers' Forum 2-8 | Ambulance crew following protocol
In response to the Readers’ Forum letter on Feb. 3 by Molly Comperatore, “Ambulance assoc. bill extravagant, unethical”:
-
Protect young lungs
A recent CDC study concludes that too many kids are breathing others’ smoke in cars.
-
Richard Dreyfuss | Future generations will come out on losing end of budget
As the governor’s state budget undergoes intense scrutiny, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary “winners and losers.”
-
‘219’ optimism is driven closer toward reality
Making U.S. Route 219 a four-lane highway from Somerset to the Mason-Dixon Line is a crucial project for our entire region.
-
Readers' Forum 2-7 | Country controlled by wackos
You just can’t make this stuff up.
-
‘219’ optimism is driven closer toward reality
Making U.S. Route 219 a four-lane highway from Somerset to the Mason-Dixon Line is a crucial project for our entire region.
-
Mark Critz | National Drug Intelligence Center – how we got here
Last week, the pending closure of Johnstown’s National Drug Intelligence Center became official, as years of fighting to keep it open came to an end.
-
Readers' Forum 2-6 | Sidewalk, security issues plague city
Despite Johnstown’s relatively mild winter, there continues to exist major concerns for senior citizens and disabled residents as we look toward the future and more-seasonably nasty winters.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
Readers' Forum 2-9 | Find funds to heal returning soldiers
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
