The “sky is falling” reaction to the new EPA regulations
by the Republicans – mainstream Republicans – demonstrates just how far the GOP
has slid to the right in just six years.
by the Republicans – mainstream Republicans – demonstrates just how far the GOP
has slid to the right in just six years.
In 2008, the Republican presidential ticket of John
McCain and Sarah Palin supported a cap-and-trade plan to reduce carbon emissions
more than the regulations introduced on Monday by the Obama administration’s
Environmental Protection Agency.
McCain and Sarah Palin supported a cap-and-trade plan to reduce carbon emissions
more than the regulations introduced on Monday by the Obama administration’s
Environmental Protection Agency.
Yes, you read that right – the carbon cap embraced by
McCain and Palin was substantially more comprehensive, with provisions targeted
at industry and commercial businesses, than what the administration will be
putting into place. McCain was nominated at the ’08 GOP National Convention
without any controversy over his plan to cut carbon in the atmosphere.
McCain and Palin was substantially more comprehensive, with provisions targeted
at industry and commercial businesses, than what the administration will be
putting into place. McCain was nominated at the ’08 GOP National Convention
without any controversy over his plan to cut carbon in the atmosphere.
A video portion of the ‘08 vice presidential debate that
surfaced on Monday included this little nugget: the moderator, clarifying Palin’s
views on the climate change issue, was asked if she supports a carbon cap. “I
do,” was her answer.
surfaced on Monday included this little nugget: the moderator, clarifying Palin’s
views on the climate change issue, was asked if she supports a carbon cap. “I
do,” was her answer.
Just as an “I do” at the altar can lead to a quick
divorce, Palin’s vow is now buried deep in the recesses of GOP minds with the
hopes of dismissing it as a short-lived mistake. Palin certainly hasn’t
addressed it.
divorce, Palin’s vow is now buried deep in the recesses of GOP minds with the
hopes of dismissing it as a short-lived mistake. Palin certainly hasn’t
addressed it.
Over at Vox.com, Ezra Klein unearthed a McCain speech
from the campaign of six years ago when the candidate said:
from the campaign of six years ago when the candidate said:
It
doesn’t matter “whether we call it ‘climate change’ or ‘global
warming,'” McCain warned. “Among environmental dangers it is surely
the most serious of all.”
doesn’t matter “whether we call it ‘climate change’ or ‘global
warming,'” McCain warned. “Among environmental dangers it is surely
the most serious of all.”
Six years later, the Republican House Speaker
John Boehner’s reaction to the much milder regs
launched by the Obama EPA was this: It’s “nuts.” Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell, now that he has brushed aside his tea party opponent in the
Kentucky primary, would take a more measured tone, right?
John Boehner’s reaction to the much milder regs
launched by the Obama EPA was this: It’s “nuts.” Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell, now that he has brushed aside his tea party opponent in the
Kentucky primary, would take a more measured tone, right?
Uh, no. McConnell cried wolf, saying that the EPA agenda
is a “dagger in the heart” of the middle class.
is a “dagger in the heart” of the middle class.
McConnell’s bit of hysteria falls into a long, historical
pattern in which CEOs and conservatives make dire predictions about the impact
of new environmental regulations. When the new Clean Air Act (which was
unanimously approved by Congress) was debated in 1970, the American
Manufacturers Association predicted that the bill would force the car industry
to shut down.
pattern in which CEOs and conservatives make dire predictions about the impact
of new environmental regulations. When the new Clean Air Act (which was
unanimously approved by Congress) was debated in 1970, the American
Manufacturers Association predicted that the bill would force the car industry
to shut down.
Current EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy (who was governor
Mitt Romney’s environmental chief in Massachusetts) and the EPA boss under
President George H.W. Bush, Bill Reilly, both pointed to the numerous doomsday
predictions of the past that were wildly off the mark in their warnings about
the pending economic devastation of new clean-air or clean-water rules.
Mitt Romney’s environmental chief in Massachusetts) and the EPA boss under
President George H.W. Bush, Bill Reilly, both pointed to the numerous doomsday
predictions of the past that were wildly off the mark in their warnings about
the pending economic devastation of new clean-air or clean-water rules.
As for the Chicken Littles in the 2014 version of the
GOP, they say carbon reductions imposed on power plants, and the increased pace
at which old coal plants will be retired ahead of time, will lead to higher
electricity costs that will wound the entire economy.
GOP, they say carbon reductions imposed on power plants, and the increased pace
at which old coal plants will be retired ahead of time, will lead to higher
electricity costs that will wound the entire economy.
Well, thanks to dramatic reductions in the cost of
electricity (adjusted for inflation–not the nominal price) over the past 30 years, the chart below
shows that projected hikes in utility bills will keep our energy costs below where they were in the booming 1990s.
electricity (adjusted for inflation–not the nominal price) over the past 30 years, the chart below
shows that projected hikes in utility bills will keep our energy costs below where they were in the booming 1990s.
Some clever, green liberal out there might want to come
up with a talking point about how the EPA regs will certainly not return us to the Reagan era when electricity rates were 25 percent higher than today.
up with a talking point about how the EPA regs will certainly not return us to the Reagan era when electricity rates were 25 percent higher than today.
