According to Macon.com, eight Democrat Senators and twenty-five Republican Senators have written a letter to the chairman and top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee asking that the 'cap and trade' proposals of the Obama Administration not be put into the 'fast-track' budget process, but instead be fully studied and given ample time for debate. According to the article, the Senators were:
"The Democrats who signed the letter, addressed to the chairman and top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, were: Robert Byrd, W.Va.; Blanche Lincoln, Ark.; Mary Landrieu, La.; Carl Levin, Mich.; Evan Bayh, Ind.; Ben Nelson, Neb.; Bob Casey Jr., Pa.; and Mark Pryor, Ark."
Many of these Senators represent states that will be particularly hit hard by 'cap and trade.' Louisiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania produce carbon-based energy and Michigan produces cars. Cap and trade will kill the coal industry, negatively impact the American oil industry and negatively impact Detriot. It will also indirectly levy large tax increases on all Americans (including all those promised a tax cut!).
According to the article:
"There also has been speculation that the expedited rules could be used to pass a health care overhaul bill, but senior Senate Democrats such as Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., oppose the idea, saying health reform must be enacted on a bipartisan basis.
The White House is open to the idea of using the fast-track rules for both global warming and health care.
"We would prefer not to start there, but we're not taking anything off the table at this point," White House budget chief Peter Orszag said last week."
To fast-track global warming and nationalized health care legislation would be very damaging to the American people and our economy. Both ideas need to be thoroughly debated in the hope that a few Senators will let common sense rather than party loyalty rule.
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