Conservatives Pan Emissions Credits

Fourteen conservative groups asked President Bush last week not to support credits for reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

In a letter to Bush, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and 13 other groups, including Americans for Tax Reform, American Conservative Union and Citizens for a Sound Economy, said the White House should come out in favor of tax cuts, instead of an emissions credits plan, to stimulate economic growth and increase energy efficiency.

”Removing tax barriers to investment in new plants and equipment will reduce emissions and energy intensity while also boosting productivity,” CEI Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis Jr. said.

Bush Tuesday said his pollution-reduction plan, called ”Clear Skies,” which would begin a national cap-and-trade emissions program, is one of his top legislative priorities.