State Republican legislators are demonstrating their opposition to a piece of Democrat-endorsed federal legislation aimed at combating climate change by regulating "greenhouse gas" emissions.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, better known as the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill, has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by the year 2020 and place caps on energy usage.

A group of Kansas legislators is joining 185 other political leaders in opposing the legislation, including Sen. Tim Huelskamp, a Fowler Republican and congressional candidate; Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee; Rep Sharon Schwartz, R-Washington; Rep Don Myers, R-Derby; and Rep Marc Rhoades, R-Newton.

Pilcher-Cook is publisher of Kansas Liberty.

“As a farmer, I know that increases in the prices for gasoline and diesel fuel, electricity and natural gas will significantly reduce the bottom line in agriculture,” Huelskamp said. “Under Waxman-Markey, consumer food prices will increase and net farm income will drop significantly. It is a dangerous proposal we can’t afford.”

The Kansas Republicans will join 119 other legislators from 39 different states in resisting the bill.

The act, which was sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., recently passed the United States House Energy and Commerce Committee and now may be considered in the full chamber. Opponents are trying to keep the legislation from gaining momentum, saying the bill would increase energy costs and raise taxes.

A report from the Heritage Foundation — a conservative policy think tank — shows that the legislation would result in about 1.1 million jobs lost between 2012 and 2030. Heritage economists also found that by the year 2035, the legislation would increase gas prices by 58 percent, electricity by 90 percent and natural gas by 55 percent.

“Waxman-Markey will cause higher energy costs to spread throughout the economy as producers everywhere try to cover their higher production costs by raising their product prices. Consumers will be most directly affected by rising energy bills,” said the report.

Resources:

• Huelskamp statement:

http://www.huelskamp.org/waxmanmarkey.html

• Heritage full report on Waxman-Markey bill:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/wm2450.cfm

• Waxman-Markey By-the-Numbers report:

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/27/waxman-markey-by-the-numbers/

• Waxman-Markey opposition letter

http://kansasliberty.com/liberty-update-archive/2009/22jun/Waxman%20Markey%20opposition%20letter.pdf

The Week in Review