Jeff Miller: Oppose Energy Bill, Will Be Costly For Rural NW Florida

June 28, 2009

On June 26th, Democrats in Congress passed one of the largest tax increases in history, and did it without even changing the tax code. With the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454), or the “cap and trade” bill, every American family will pay more for their energy costs. Electric and heating bills will climb, we will pay more for gas at the pump, farmers will pay more to grow our food, and the price for consumer goods will unavoidably rise. In an economic climate like the one we currently face, forcing Americans to spend more of their disposable income on energy costs is outrageous and dangerous. That is why I strongly opposed this legislation and sincerely hope that it does not make it through the Senate.

miller.jpgWhile the estimates on the exact cost to American taxpayers vary, no one disputes the fact that consumers will pay more for their energy. President Obama has admitted that a cap and tax system like the Waxman-Markey legislation would cause electricity rates to “necessarily skyrocket.” The costs skyrocket because that is the very point of cap and trade. When electricity prices are drastically increased, consumers are forced to make cuts in order to meet their budgets. These cuts in electricity use cause a similar decrease in emissions.

The goal of reducing pollution is one I strongly support, but a cap and trade system is not the way to reach this objective. Not only will Americans pay more every year for energy, but the bill will result in a huge net loss of American jobs. According to the independent Charles River Associates International, H.R. 2454 would result in a “net reduction in U.S. employment of 2.3 million to 2.7 million jobs each year of the policy through 2030,” even after the creation of the promised new green jobs. National unemployment hovers near 10 percent, and any bill that results in millions of American job losses is completely unacceptable.

The residents in Northwest Florida will be hit particularly hard by this bill’s tremendous negative consequences because it unfairly targets farmers and rural America . Rural residents spend 58 percent more on fuel and travel 25 percent further to work than those living in urbanized areas. A Heritage Foundation study found that the cap and trade bill would cause a Gross Domestic Product loss in our district alone of $782 million each year for the next 20 years. The people I represent refuse to accept such remarkable economic losses in our area in exchange for a misguided policy that reportedly will have little positive impact on the world’s environment.

There is a better solution to America ’s energy and emissions problems. I support an “all of the above” approach as a comprehensive energy solution. Let’s focus on developing clean and renewable energy, exploring new domestic sources for oil and natural gas, and building nuclear power plants. These are the solutions that Americans deserve, and I will continue working to ensure that energy reform is not achieved on the backs of hardworking taxpayers and American small businesses.

Comments

9 Responses to “Jeff Miller: Oppose Energy Bill, Will Be Costly For Rural NW Florida”

  1. Steve B. on July 7th, 2009 8:01 pm

    Thank you for standing up for you people Mr. Miller..thank you thank you!!!

    Crestview, Florida

  2. Casandra on June 30th, 2009 12:41 pm

    I just received a response from Senator Nelson. I’m not impressed, to say the least. At any rate, I thought I’d share what he had to say:

    Dear Mrs. XXXXX,

    Thank you for contacting me regarding cap-and-trade legislation.

    I am interested in cap-and-trade programs because they would let the market, not the government, dictate how to lower harmful emissions. I believe that we have the technology and ability to meet the challenge of climate change in a way that will provide new economic opportunities and make us more competitive internationally while protecting consumers from high energy prices and breaking our dependence on oil.

    Global warming threatens Florida’s fragile ecosystem and $56 billion tourism industry. Rising sea levels will encroach on Florida’s pristine beaches and harm coastal wetlands and the Everglades. Increased carbon dioxide and water temperatures will damage sensitive coral reefs and endanger Florida’s diverse marine species. A scientific study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded with 90 percent certainty that global warming is caused by the accumulation of man-made greenhouse gasses.

    On June 26, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The Senate is expected to consider legislation to address energy independence and climate change in the fall.

    I will continue to work in the Senate to fight the effects of global warming. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me, and I respect your views. Please feel free to regarding any additional issues of concern.

    Sincerely,
    Senator Bill Nelson

  3. psu1earl on June 29th, 2009 4:20 pm

    your energy bill is not the only thing that is getting hammered with fees and taxes…I just got my telephone bill in the mail today and was for $45…I have just basic local service that cost $21 per month…but here’s the good part, the fees and taxes costs me $24 per month! More than the service itself! What’s wrong with that picture…

  4. Me! on June 29th, 2009 2:35 pm

    HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW CAP AND TRADE WORKS. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN SANTA BARBARA CALIFORNIA. IN 1980 A MAJOR OIL COMPANY WANTED TO BUILD A GAS PROCESSING PLANT IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY . SANTA BARBARA COUNTY HAD A CAP AND TRADE LAW IN FORCE. IN ORDER TO GET THE PEMITS THE OIL COMPANY BOUGHT UP EVERY DRY CLEANING BUISNESS FOR MILES AROUND AND SHUT THEM DOWN, THUS ELIMINATING THE EMISSIONS THEY PRODUCED, THUS TRADING THOSE EMISSIONS FOR THE ONES THE GAS PROCESSING PLANT WOULD PRODUCE. THUS PERMITS GRANTED, THE SAME AMOUNT OF EMISSIONS WERE STILL GOING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO GET THEIR CLOTHES DRY CLEANED AND EVERYONE LIVED HAPPYLY EVER AFTER. ESPECIALLY THE MAJOR OIL COMPANY!

  5. jd on June 28th, 2009 8:55 pm

    and if you did not know, you already pay 25.00 per meter in your yard before you even get any electricity. all this crap is already unconstitutional

  6. Taxed to death on June 28th, 2009 8:16 pm

    If it passes you’ll be broke………….hows that.

  7. DUMMIE on June 28th, 2009 6:27 pm

    I GUESS I AM A REAL DUMMIE…WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO EXPLAIN THIS IN LAYMAN’S TERMS..

  8. Franklin on June 28th, 2009 12:03 pm

    Jeff Miller quotes the “independent” Charles River Associates International (CRAI), who provided this analysis for a trade organization representing large utilities, without mentioning that major utilities were critical of the study’s dire predictions as “exaggerated”. Nor did Jeff Miller indicate that CRAI also represents the oil industry. Mr. Miller conveniently also forgot to bring up EPA’s analysis of the bill, which indicated costs should run less than $150 per household/year. This type of cap-n-trade has been used for years in the U.S. to deal with sulfur pollutants, so where’s the outrage about that system, or did that too bring us the housing bubble collapse? I could go on about the Heritage Foundation, but I hope most readers already know about the partisanship of this organization. These are old arguments, previously rebutted – it’s sad to see that they continue to be repeated in a partisan manner.

  9. Casandra on June 28th, 2009 9:08 am

    Please write your Senators, today!! Here are links to our Senators’ contact information. You can call, write, email or all three.

    Senator Bill Nelson
    http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/legislation.cfm

    Senator Mel Martinez
    http://martinez.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorMartinez\\

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News