| Author | Message | ||
     Liquorwhere |
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the deceptively titled “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,” also known as the Waxman/Markey/Pelosi bill. This climate legislation, in some form, will be before the U.S. Senate in the fall. We believe strongly that if this type of climate legislation becomes law, it will have enormous negative impact on the economy, the consumer, and the refining industry. We urge you to become active in this debate and take action today at www.voicesforenergy.com. We are all concerned about climate change and increasing carbon dioxide levels. But, the hidden tax on commodities imposed by this legislation will lead to a significant increase in the price of gasoline and other energy sources, and more than a million jobs will disappear from our already crippled economy - with no measurable improvement in global climate change. This legislation, if it becomes law, will: • Cause prices to go up significantly. One estimate has gasoline prices going up 77 cents per gallon and taxes jumping $800 billion over 10 years. • Inequitably allocate carbon emission credits with the clear intent of penalizing oil. The legislation allocates large amounts of free emission credits to certain sectors of the economy while providing very few (2 percent) to the refining industry. • Increase the cost of producing all goods in the United States. While our nation will enforce the law, will developing countries like India and China do the same? Or do they view it as their turn to have economic growth since America will be severely disadvantaged? • Reduce economic growth and severely reduce job creation. • Increase the average family’s energy costs by additional $1,500 per year. We are fully committed to educating our employees and friends of the severe and long-lasting negative effects of this climate legislation and engaging them in this fight. We urge you to contact your members of Congress, initially focusing on the Senate, and the President, and express your opposition to any potential bill. We have created a resource at www.voicesforenergy.com that provides a fast and easy tool for contacting your legislator and learning more about this issue. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
A couple things: 1) Pelosi is not one of HR-2454's sponsors, nor did she offer any amendments to the bill. This is an easy thing to verify, and the fact that Valero drops her name into their argument against the bill means either they're very sloppy with facts or they're just doing it to stir up the base. Either way, it's a red flag in the credibility department. 2) Opposition to this bill isn't as clear as you might think. Valero Energy is obviously against it, and I give them a tip of the hat for putting their logo front and center on the voicesforenergy website. A lot of companies wouldn't be so open about their funding and guidance. That being said, other corporations have thrown their support behind the bill: GE, Ford and DuPont, for starters. My guess is there are items in the bill that mesh well with the long-term plans for these companies because we're not talking about a bunch of local non-profits here, but still it raises the question of whether HR-2454 is bad for America or just bad for Valero Energy. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
I should have clarified it was a copy and paste of an email I received from one of our company officers. I didn't verify anything in it, so for you to, it was more than I did. So I cannot dispute anything you say without further research. It was a post that was asked to be passed along, so I did. I still find it interesting. | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
For the past 10 years we have seen a great decline in American manufactured goods. Weve also seen fuel and other energy cost go up. We have a high unemployment. but please by all means put the final nail in our coffin democrats. Oh and GE can buck my sig bairy halls.  | ||
| Edgydrifter |
Liquorwhore: Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you hadn't fact-checked the material. I was referring to Valero there. Honestly, even if this bill does make it through the Senate I'm not sure what effect it will have to the overall economy. Some like Valero will lose, or at least they think losing is likely, while others (such as the above-mentioned "sall-bucking" GE) might come out smelling like roses. The only thing bothering me is that I doubt the people who will decide this in the Senate--on both sides--have any better idea than you or I of the long-term impact of this bill. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
No worries man, I didn't fact check it before I posted it, I have been able to put a little more research in since yesterday, and I will point out that carbon credits and "cap and trade" seem to me like the old Enron end around to make power a commodity, we all know how that worked out for Enron, but instead they are making a commodity out of carbon credits. Creating a complimentary economy that is enforceable by law, sort of like insurance in a way, make it a law for car or bike insurance, be it good or bad, and you create a market for the product. As it stands now, no market for carbon credits, make a law and presto, you have a way for politicians to make a HUGE sum of money, directly or indirectly...it just smacks of a law to facilitate corruption and create a "mafia" style protection scheme....total shakedown....anyway, just my 2pennies on the subject. I still don't see how this will limit carbon emissions, it only seems to add to the end user billing..... |
