Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 08/02/2010 2:38:53 AM PDT by Scanian
The latest Senate energy bill, quietly unveiled last week, looks like sweet compromise on radical measures like cap and trade, but buried within is a bitter poison pill that will could be swallowed in a vote that may come this week.
Unlike the 1,200-page House of Representatives energy bill, which passed last year, this scaled-down proposal does not call for an 83-percent reduction in greenhouse gases (or any reduction in greenhouse gases) and contains no mention of a cap-and-trade scheme. Also contrary to the House bill, this one does not provide a family of four earning up to $55,000 with a monthly stipend -- deposited directly into their bank accounts -- to offset higher energy costs. It also does not supply three years of unemployment benefits at 70 percent of former wages -- plus job retraining and relocation -- to those whose jobs are shipped overseas, as prescribed in the House bill.
Instead, at a glance (which is the way most in Congress ever seem to examine legislation), this bill appears rather easy to take. Most of its 357 pages are devoted to sections entitled "Oil Spill Response," "Reducing Oil Consumption," "Improving Energy Security," and "Protecting the Environment." There's even a portion devoted to further grill BP via subpoena power. With sugar-coating like this, the sixty votes necessary to pass seem possible.
However, beneath the glaze, there's a clot of overpowering government spending and social engineering.
For example, electric vehicles are pushed via the bill's "Promoting Electric Vehicles Act of 2010." No surprise here, particularly since the government has a 61% stake in General Motors and Chevy's electro-mobile, the Volt. Besides this Act allowing the feds to spend $25 million on new electric cars for their official fleet, there's an astounding electric car welfare program. Section 2116 explains that 400,000 such vehicles will be virtually given away at low cost -- or perhaps no cost -- to people living in "selected communities diverse in population" and "demographics."
Additionally, pages 264-265 require that any new construction or remodel of an existing structure must include the installation of proper hookups for charging an electric vehicle. So even if you have no intention of owning such a car, adding that extra bedroom will require you to spend additional money to install battery-charging infrastructure in your garage.
The bill also heralds the coming of the "Batteries For Tomorrow Prize." The first person to build a car battery that runs 500 miles on a single charge will win a taxpayer-funded reward of $10 million.
And there's bait to entice truck owners to switch from traditional petroleum to natural gas. Section 2002 describes federal rebates, ranging from $8,000 for large pickups to $64,000 for heavy-duty Class 6 trucks weighing 26,000 pounds, available for those who install the equipment to make the fuel swap. And government grants (not loans) of up to $50,000 are available for gas stations to install natural gas refueling pumps.
And then there is the section of the Senate bill dedicated to the new federal building code. Originally rolled out in the House's energy plan, the code -- which supersedes all state and local measures and is thoroughly detailed in my book, Climategate -- now has a name: "The Home Star Retrofit Act of 2010." This Act places a hard squeeze on every property owner to spend thousands of dollars in environmental compliance upgrades in a time of economic stringency and falling home prices.
Federal dollars will be paid to those who decrease their energy usage. With the Smart Meters being installed across the country (mandated in the 2005 energy law and capable of recording your energy usage minute by minute), the government will be able to accurately determine your carbon footprint. To entice you to reduce your footprint, rewards of $3,000 will be given for a 25-percent reduction in energy consumption, and $1,000 more for each 5-percent reduction achieved -- up to a maximum of $8,000. A similar plan is proposed for water consumption.
Additionally, federal rebates of up to another $8,000 per home are available for upgrading doors, windows, insulation, roofs, water heaters, air conditioners, etc.
Even with the government kickbacks, if you're still unable to afford all of the upgrades, Section 3015 declares that Fannie Mae will be the official lender to provide you with a "Home Star Efficiency Loan." This means taxpayer sponsored Fannie will be taking on even more debt.
As one who has written extensively about the ideological machinations of the environmental movement and its leaders, I can tell you that this Senate bill is everything they wished could have been packed into the original House proposal.
If the Senate bites on this legislation, an airsickness bag will be required. The bill will go to committee, be conjoined with the massive House plan, and be presented to a lame duck Congress who will ram the bad medicine down our throats.
We need to hound the Senate now. Tell them to keep this poison pill away from their lips.
Count on a few RINOS to screw us. I wondered what they were going to do with the Obamamobiles. They are for government and free cars for the blacks.
Count on a few RINOS to screw us. I wondered what they were going to do with the Obamamobiles. They are for government and free cars for the blacks.
Not that I would want one of these deathtraps, anyway (forget the 240 mile round trip in -30 winter weather busting drifts and running the heater to go to the next large town), but why punish communities 'diverse' people just don't want to live in?
I moved here from elsewhere, (as did most here), but if 'diverse demographics' do not want to live in subarctic conditions half the year, why should those who do live here have to buy other people elsewhere vehicles and then install plug-ins that will never be used if we redo the kitchen?
ping
Are Congress and Moslem excluded on this, too?
>>And then there is the section of the Senate bill dedicated to the new federal building code. Originally rolled out in the House’s energy plan, the code — which supersedes all state and local measures<<
The end of state & local sovereignty - and any reason for political offices. Plus the end to the real estate business.
Does anyone know the Bill’s identification number in the Senate?
I am sure it could be argued that any Senator who is deluded enough to support and then vote for this pig could, in the end be tried and convected of TREASON and hanged!
That is SO drastic that I don’t know how it can properly be called ‘legislation’.
That is SO drastic that, if passed, I don’t believe we can properly continue calling ourselves a republic...
But then, I felt that way about the passage of ‘obamacare’ too.
American voters have become helpless victims of this system of institutionalized theft.
The “O” administration lends an entirely new dimension to the phrase: ‘loot, pillage and plunder’. Viking marauders never enjoyed more freedom of action or disregard for accountability!!
How are they going to calculate this? Will there be a period of tracking to establish a baseline use? If so, run up your usage above normal then after the period go back to normal and you will see a reduction.
201. [111th] S.3514 : Guaranteed Oil Spill Compensation Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 6/21/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 6/21/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
202. [111th] S.3515 : Department of the Interior Research and Technologies for Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] (introduced 6/21/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
203. [111th] S.3516 : Outer Continental Shelf Reform Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 6/21/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Senate Reports: 111-236
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
204. [111th] S.3521 : Rare Earths Supply Technology and Resources Transformation Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] (introduced 6/22/2010) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
205. [111th] S.3524 : San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] (introduced 6/23/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/23/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
206. [111th] S.3532 : Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act
Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 6/24/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
207. [111th] S.3535 : Next Generation Energy Security Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 6/24/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
208. [111th] S.3537 : Central Rockies Land Exchange and National Park System Enhancement Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Udall, Mark [CO] (introduced 6/24/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
209. [111th] S.3541 : Deepwater Drilling Royalty Prohibition Act
Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] (introduced 6/28/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
210. [111th] S.3542 : Oil Spill Compensation Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] (introduced 6/28/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
211. [111th] S.3545 : Gulf of Mexico Economic Recovery and Job Impact Analysis Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] (introduced 6/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Latest Major Action: 6/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
212. [111th] S.3562 : A bill to rename the Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Nebraska, as the Homestead National Historical Park.
Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 6/30/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
213. [111th] S.3565 : Mohave Valley Land Conveyance Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John [AZ] (introduced 7/12/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/12/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
214. [111th] S.3570 : Hydropower Improvement Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] (introduced 7/13/2010) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
215. [111th] S.3571 : Hydropower Renewable Energy Development Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] (introduced 7/13/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
216. [111th] S.3573 : Lake Thunderbird Efficient Use Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] (introduced 7/13/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
217. [111th] S.3576 : Securing America's Future with Energy and Sustainable Technologies Act
Sponsor: Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] (introduced 7/13/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/13/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
218. [111th] S.3584 : Responsible Arctic Energy Development Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Begich, Mark [AK] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
219. [111th] S.3585 : Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Udall, Mark [CO] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
220. [111th] S.3586 : Geothermal Exploration Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
221. [111th] S.3587 : Clean Energy, Community Investment, and Wildlife Conservation Act
Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
222. [111th] S.3588 : A bill to limit the moratorium on certain permitting and drilling activities issued by the Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David [LA] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 7/15/2010 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 463.
223. [111th] S.3589 : A bill to provide financial incentives and a regulatory framework to facilitate the development and early deployment of carbon capture and sequestration technologies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 7/14/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/14/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
224. [111th] S.3612 : Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Amendments Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 7/19/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
225. [111th] S.3616 : Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Protection Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 7/20/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
226. [111th] S.3617 : STORAGE 2010 Act
Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 7/20/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
227. [111th] S.3618 : Enabling the Nuclear Renaissance Act
Sponsor: Sen Voinovich, George V. [OH] (introduced 7/20/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
228. [111th] S.3619 : A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve geothermal energy technology and demonstrate the use of geothermal energy in large scale thermal applications, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Tester, Jon [MT] (introduced 7/20/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/20/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
229. [111th] S.3626 : Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Franken, Al [MN] (introduced 7/21/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/21/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
230. [111th] S.3631 : Clean Energy Works Act
Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
231. [111th] S.3634 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the types of energy conservation subsidies provided by public utilities eligible for income exclusion.
Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
232. [111th] S.3635 : Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011
Sponsor: Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Appropriations
Senate Reports: 111-228
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 478.
233. [111th] S.3642 : PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
234. [111th] S.3643 : Oil Spill Response Improvement Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen McConnell, Mitch [KY] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (12)
Latest Major Action: 7/26/2010 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 483.
235. [111th] S.3649 : A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to provide for use of excess funds available under that Act to provide for certain benefits, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 7/26/2010) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/26/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
236. [111th] S.3660 : A bill to amend the Act of June 8, 1906, to require certain procedures for designating national monuments, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] (introduced 7/28/2010) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
237. [111th] S.3663 : Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Reid, Harry [NV] (introduced 7/28/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2010 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 493.
238. [111th] S.AMDT.4318 to H.R.4213 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate big oil and gas company tax loopholes, and to use the resulting increase in revenues to reduce the deficit and to invest in energy efficiency and conservation.
Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 6/9/2010) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 6/15/2010 Proposed amendment SA 4318 under the order of 6/15/10, not having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, the amendment was withdrawn in Senate.
Good research! Thank you.
(Yes, the “description” of each bill IS intended to hide the (ever-increasing) control BEHIND each bill. Also, the more each democrat-titled bill “promises” - the more liberty it removes, the less it delivers.
The more democrats sponsoring a bill, the less truthful the title becomes.
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