Sylvester traveled [by bus] again to Washington to attend an all day planning meeting on Jan. 10th that included the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Carbon Tax Center, Climate Crisis Coalition, Friends Committee on National Legislation and Friends of the Earth. Selected notes from the meeting follow:
1) The new Administration as well as Congress will almost certainly emphasize legislation regarding the economy and health care as well as other legacy issues for the first part of this year. 2) Strategies were discussed for lobbying for the tax-and-dividend during the interim. 3) One conclusion of this meeting was to plan a Senate briefing or hearing for Spring or Summer 2009 in Washington to complement the briefing held by Congressman Larson in Dec. 2008. 4) A briefing is arranged by a group such as the above supporters of the tax. A hearing is a more significant event arranged by a sponsoring Senator. Although the group may start in the Senate with a briefing, it's very likely that a sponsor for a hearing will be found this year. 5) Sylvester's letter about the first carbon tax briefing held in the House appeared in the Ithaca Journal at http:// www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090103/OPINION03/901030349/1014/ OPINION 6) When the carbon tax-and-dividend is mentioned while lobbying, proponents of cap-auction sometimes get defensive, claiming that talking about the tax is a distraction from what is felt to be the “only politically viable possibility”, cap-trade. It is felt to be more politically viable because it does not have the word “tax” in its name, even though cap-trade is indeed a covert tax. The merits are really on the side of the actual tax as is described at federalcarbontax.org, so that the tax must be given consideration and support. 7) Suggestions have been made that the name of the tax be made more explanatory, perhaps calling it a “carbon pollution fee” or “climate harm charge”. However, calling it anything other than a tax would open up supporters to charges of trying to hide the fact that it is a tax. On the other hand, a more descriptive name would communicate more of the purpose. 8) 2009 could become a year for breakthrough accomplishments, including recognition of the many advantages of a carbon tax-and-return. It was great to attend a meeting of concerned people who are committed to motivating actual reductions in emissions at the source using the carbon tax, instead of increasing opportunities for gaming a new commodities market via cap-auction, gaming that would divert industrial effort away from improving productivity. Let’s not put the Earth-critical process of reducing emissions into the hands of brokers pitching deals. Let’s get this epochal overarching environmental policy decision right, enacting the more effective, economical, and equitable carbon tax, not the second best and built-broken cap-and-trade. Advocates can send a letter to Congress by a mouse-click at www.pricecarbon.org. _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
