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Kerry-Boxer – Fifth Version Still Not the Charm

According to The New York Times/ClimateWire, there is a new version of the Kerry-Boxer cap-and-trade legislation. For those keeping track, that makes no less than five different versions in just 36 days. Let us recap:

September 29 – 684-page draft version
September 30 – 801-page updated draft version
September 30 – 821-page bill, as introduced
October 23 – 925-page chairman’s mark
November 3 – 959-page updated chairman’s mark

As we discussed earlier, there is a need for transparency in this debate and a full understanding of the economic consequences of such legislation. The 959-page version reported in the press today cannot be found on the committee’s website. The committee rules state:

(a) NOTICE: The chair of the committee or the subcommittee shall provide notice, the agenda of business to be discussed, and the text of agenda items to members of the committee or subcommittee at least 72 hours before a business meeting. If the 72 hours falls over a weekend, all materials will be provided by close of business on Friday.

To translate, it would be against committee rules for the 959-page version to be the basis of the today’s planned markup because it has not been publicly available for 72 hours. Numerous unexplained alterations make it difficult for those who are trying to follow the debate and stay informed.

  • Author: Dan Holler
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8 Comments

November 3, 2009 Bobbie Jay writes:

It is obvious this government doesn’t keep their word. It is evident their intent is to destroy this country and the founding. They’re wasting time. They’re wasting money! they’re getting close to wasting away America.

Thank you so much for keeping us well informed of all this danger, dishonesty and corruption!

November 10, 2009 The Cap and Trade Boycott Continues | Conservative Principles Now writes:

[...] the committee would receive a briefing from committee staff on the actual provisions of the latest version of the bill. That is certainly not objectionable, but common sense suggests a thorough understanding [...]

November 13, 2009 Yama, Yorktown writes:

This proposal is one of many lies…the “silent majority” MUST wake up to the fact that 2008 was a mistake, and we MUST fix that mistake quickly, by getting the facts and letting elected officials understand that they work at OUR will and pleasure, not the other way around.

November 13, 2009 Daniel, Clover writes:

Surprise, Surprise another unconstitutional piece of legislation which will severly tear at the fabric of our great nation being manipulated and shoved into the dark corners that consists of the Democratic ‘roaches.’ I would wager that this bill will soon rival the “health-care reform” for size and increase in both government bureaucracy and cost to the American taxpayer.

November 14, 2009 Joe, Orlando writes:

These people will do ANYTHING to take control of our lives! People of America better wake up and spend less time playing games on Facebook or watching American Idol before it is TOO LATE!!

November 17, 2009 Lisa, North Dakota writes:

This Congress - as well as the WH administration, is frightening. I pray we can get them voted out before they do too much damage to our country. It feels as though there is nothing we can do to change their direction - because they just don’t seem to listen to the public at all. They are storming ahead with absolutely no regard for what the public has to say.

November 17, 2009 andi, maryland writes:

Unbelievable! If a private citizen tried this it would be called a “scam”. Hmmmmm…

November 18, 2009 Nathan, Rochester NY writes:

“Public servants say, always with the best of intentions, “What greater service we could render if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” But the truth is that outside of its legitimate function, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector.”

- Ronald Reagan

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