Johanns: Senate Climate Bill Left of Obama, Pelosi

Senator Mike Johanns today made the following statement regarding the climate change legislation introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA).

"This bill is an assault on agriculture. It is to the left of Speaker Pelosi and to the left of the President. It will lead to higher taxes, higher energy costs, a tighter squeeze on disposable income, more lost jobs and lower standards of living. For agriculture, the costs are real and the benefits are theoretical--our country's heartland is in the crosshairs of this national energy tax."

Fast Facts:

• The bill proposes reductions of 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, compared to the Waxman-Markey reductions of 17 percent and the President's reductions of 14 percent in the same period.
• This bill is riddled with blanks and bracketed text: over 100 blanks, and almost 200 sets of bracketed text, for a combined total of more than 300 missing details.
• Under this bill, the EPA would move ahead with regulation of greenhouse gases.
• Under this bill, control of the offsets program is located within EPA.
• Under this bill, EPA would move ahead with indirect land use calculations for biofuels.

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