Even during this busy holiday season, our work continues in the pursuit of "Lower Taxes, Less Government, and More Freedom"!Our intelligence tells us that the Cap and Trade issue will resurface in force in January and February of 2010. Thankfully, there are numerouse organizations working together to oppose this egregious proposal.

Cap and trade is being called the largest tax hike increase in U.S. history and its effects will fall hardest on states that depend on industry.   The Consumer Energy Alliance is holding events next week across Michigan and South Dakota to dig into the ramifications cap and trade will have on business.  Lunch will be provided.  This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what this legislation could mean for your business and family.

Today, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) released a report analyzing the likely effects of the Waxman-Markey energy bill passed by the House of Representatives in June. The report provides an analysis of aspects of the bill that have previously gone overlooked: Increased fuel prices and their effect on consumers. Up until now, analysis of Waxman-Markey has focused on electricity prices and ignored the harm caused by higher fuel costs. According to the report, Waxman-Markey will increase fuel costs by more than $3.6 trillion over the life of the bill.

A cap and trade bill being introduced today by Senators John Kerry (D, Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D, Calif.) threatens to devastate the U.S. economy and yet have no tangible environmental benefit. 

Today, President Obama spoke before the United Nations to address the issue of climate change. In a speech in which he highlighted the United States’ record on energy policy, the president also called on other nations to join him in his “urgent” fight against climate change. Seen by many as a lead-in to this week’s G20 Summit and December’s climate summit in Copenhagen, the speech revived President Obama’s domestic energy initiatives at a time when most of the public debate has been dominated by health care.