There are some Republicans who are Believers in anthropogenic climate change, such as Florida’s Matt Gaetz. Lindsay Graham always was a believer. Many others are just following the winds, thinking that this is truly an important issue, so, are pushing some policies to deal with it. Unlike some lunatics like George Schultz, they are not pushing carbon taxes. Instead….
Economic Growth Defines Climate Change Divide Between Republicans And Democrats
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy this week gave a glimpse into Republican plans for addressing climate change and the environment issues.
It is encouraging to see Republicans take on environmental issues since they rank as a top concern for independent and moderate voters who are critical to the GOP this cycle. It’s also refreshing to see Republicans taking a fiscally responsible approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change.
Poll after poll shows voter support for climate change legislation is dependent on its price tag. Americans want policies that are achievable and that protect economic growth and prosperity along with the environment. That’s why Republicans are right to focus on American ingenuity and innovation over government regulation.
Let me point out again that polls show that the majority refuse to pay more than $10 a month. Others show they do not want to pay more than a $1.
On the other side of the political divide, Democrats deserve some credit for recognizing that the $93 trillion Green New Deal promoted by progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) isn’t just dead legislatively, but has become toxic with voters.
Democrats’ second bite at the climate legislation apple, the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act, released earlier this month by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), is closer to the center than previous attempts.
Closer to the center isn’t saying much when the GND is the starting point. The CLEAN Future Act is still very much far left. Or, should we say very far right, because on the political scale Authoritarianism is way to the right, and that’s what they bill is. The only difference between it and the GND is that it doesn’t knock natural gas and nuclear energy out of the picture.
In the House, Republicans are beginning to roll out proposals focused on innovation and nature-based solutions, such as planting 1 trillion trees by 2050 to absorb carbon. Republicans are also working to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans, make our communities more resilient to severe weather activity, and extend tax credits for industrial carbon capture technology.
Republicans also support efforts to expand renewable energy deployment by reducing the regulatory roadblocks that often delay projects to the point where they’re no longer economically viable. Streamlining the regulatory universe is an approach even President Trump supports.
The common denominators among the Republican efforts to address climate change are a faith in competitive free markets, American ingenuity and incentives. Call it a zero-harm approach.
There is nothing wrong with doing R&D, moving technology forward, nor protecting communities. Regardless of your belief in causation of the current warm period, climatic changes can cause issues, so, why not address them? Democrats, on the other hand, are all about Government control. Control of you, control of the economy, control of everything. And taxes and fees. Don’t forget those. One just has to look at the ‘climate change’ plans of all the Democrats running for president, and you see the extremism. The authoritarianism.
