I love the Green New Deal, but it is unlikely to get any support from Republicans and is even more unlikely to pass congress in the next two years.
We simply cannot afford to wait for the perfect time when we might pass such an expensive proposal. How many of you realize that right now we have a very good bipartisan bill proposed in the house, one which we should all be supporting? The bill has three Democratic sponsors and three Republican ones. It is of course only a trial run. It will die in the lame duck session, but this is the first time in 10 years that such a bill has been introduced with a Republican cosponsor. Whether we like it or not, we cannot succeed without Republican support. This bill isn’t perfect, but it is very very good. It starts with a carbon fee at the source, If we want a bill like it to be successful in the next Congress, we should be supporting this one now. Contact your congressperson to let him or her know you want to see a bill like this in 2019. How we respond will determine whether a bill like it will be reintroduced.
Some features of the bill include:
Carbon Fee
This policy puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It starts low, and grows over time. This will drive down carbon pollution because energy companies, leading industries, and American consumers will move toward cleaner, cheaper options.
Carbon Dividend
The money collected from the carbon fee is allocated in equal shares every month to the American people to spend as they see fit. Program administrative costs are paid from the fees collected. The government does not keep any of the money from the carbon fee.
Border Carbon Adjustment
To protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs, imported goods will pay a border carbon adjustment, and goods exported from the United States will receive a refund under this policy.
Regulatory Adjustment
This policy prevents additional regulations on covered CO2 emissions, as long as emission targets are being met. If emission targets are not met after 10 years, then EPA regulatory authority over these emissions would be restored. Regulations based on other pollutants will not be affected, nor will regulations such as auto mileage standards, water quality and more.
The Act will discourage the sort of fights we are currently having over seismic testing and offshore drilling off our coasts by finally making drilling for oil far less lucrative. It will help slow and ultimately stop the king tides, the melting glaciers and resulting sea level rise that threatens our property and livelihoods on our coasts and in our cities. It will encourage investment in alternative energy and grow jobs in those sectors. It will reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve human health. It will begin to address the droughts in the west which are causing fires and destroying homes and lives. We cannot afford to wait for perfect. This is very very good. Please call your congress person today to lend your support.