In these days when continual bickering and gridlock in Congress is the norm, it’s a remarkable event when a bill can accrue bipartisan support – particularly on a topic that demands attention of the silent majority of both parties and a growing number of independent voters.
Just imagine what a political discussion and debate would sound like if the content was based on wisdom, compromise, need, and a focus based on scientific fact and settled science.
There is such a bill in the US House. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R.7173 was introduced on Nov. 27th sponsored by 4 Democrats and 3 Republicans, including three from Florida (Charlie Crist, (D-FL 13) Ted Deutch (D-FL 22) and Francis Rooney (R-FL19) plus Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 08) and John Delaney (D-MD 06). Since then, 3 more cosponsors have added their names to the bill: Dave Trott (R-MI 11), Anna Eshoo (D-CA 18) and Judy Chu (D-CA 27).
This bill is breakthrough legislation that immediately responds to the demands and devastating effects of climate change by reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent within twelve years. It’s revenue neutral, isn’t a tax on the consumer, and doesn’t grow government. It places a steadily rising fee on carbon pollution at its source to encourage producers to reduce their carbon output. One hundred percent of all carbon fees collected will be returned directly into the hands of American consumers.
This policy will create 2.1 million new jobs in the clean energy economy over the next 10 years, will decrease pollution that causes and exacerbates illnesses and, imagine this, actually promotes the common good.
The Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) supports this legislation. While reducing heat trapping emissions is a noble goal, and carbon fees is a good way to accomplish this, the onus must be placed on the producers of carbon and not consumers. Whatever additional costs producers may pass on to consumers will be offset by passing on the revenue – every penny of the carbon fees collected – back directly to the people to spend as they wish.
Please encourage your member of Congress, Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-11), to support this common-sense approach to dealing with the critical need to reduce carbon in the atmosphere. It is time to set aside partisan differences and, for the good of our state, nation and world, start addressing the threat of climate change by enacting the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act in the next Congress.
Villager Steven Hendrickson is a member of the Citizens Climate Lobby Chapter-The Villages.
