Cap and Trade Climate Bill Is "A Pig in a Poke"

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According to Missouri Senator Kit Bond (R) the cap and trade Waxman-Markey Bill “is really a pig in a poke.” That’s what he told the committee on Tuesday, anyway. Given the opportunity to speak in front of a committee on the financial impacts that the climate bill would have on farmers, Senator Bond wasted no time calling the bill a hoax.

Senator Bond told committee members on Tuesday that the proposed bill would end up costing farmers up to $30,000 per year with the increase in energy costs. These costs work into every detail of a farmers life, from diesel fuel to power their tractors and combines to natural gas in order to make fertilizer. Farm equipment uses energy for irrigation pumps and drying grain before storage.

According to a Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) representative sample, a 1,900 acre soybean farm in Lafayette County could expect a $11,649 increase in energy costs in 2020, rising to $30,152 in 2050 under the Waxman-Markey bill.

“I can only tell my colleagues here on the committee, many of whom are from the East Coast or West Coast and may not be familiar with farm costs,” Bond said, “that $11,000 rising to $30,000 per farm is a jaw dropping number for farmers.  Forcing farmers to pay $11,000 rising to $30,000 per farm each year for cap and trade would be a bit more than the postage stamp per day we were told earlier – it would be unconscionable.”

Higher energy costs would increase more than just the tractor, too. Seed, fertilizer, chemicals, custom hire and rental, machinery fuel, drying and irrigation energy, machinery repairs and operating interest would all feel the effects of an increase in energy prices.

“So, we see that the “cash cow” climate supporters are trying to sell us is really a “pig in a poke” – an $11,000 rising to $30,000 per farm “cat in the bag” that this FAPRI study just let out.”

So what is the answer if this cap and trade bill isn’t?

“I support reducing carbon emissions with zero-carbon nuclear power, low-carbon biofuels and clean coal technology, low-carbon hybrid and plug-in vehicles, and solar and wind power where it makes economic sense.  But we should not support a cap and trade bill that hurts farmers much more than it helps them.”

To listen to Senator Bonds’ statements, click here.

Photo Credit: ∗FranJa via flickr under Creative Commons License

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