As you may know, the Clean Energy and Security Act, more commonly know as the cap-and-trade bill will reportedly http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/inhofe_cap_and_trade/2009/04/22/206061.html add at least $3,000 a year to every American’s energy bill. It passed through the House by a razor thin vote of 219 to 212. Eight Republicans, now labeled the “Cap-N- Tr8tors” are having to answer for their individual decisions to help pass the largest tax bill ever in the history of Congress.
The Senate is expected to vote on it this Fall, probably in September. Our Senators Lincoln and Pryor are both reportedly for this bill in “some form”. Out of Arkansas’s four Congressmen, Congressman Mike Ross (D-4th District), was one of three who voted against it. Ross wrote a guest editorial in The Arkansas Democrat Gazette http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/262941/ on the subject, which may well put added pressure on Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. Ross writes in part-
“There are few issues we address in the U.S. Congress that affect every individual, every family and every business more than the availability of energy.
Over the past few years, the realities of the 21st century have forced us to reexamine how we obtain and consume energy in this country. I believe that we must begin to address this issue not only for environmental reasons, but also to facilitate long-term economic growth and to protect our national security.
One proposal to address climate change is the Clean Energy and Security Act, more commonly know as the cap-and-trade bill. This legislation's goal is to overhaul the energy structure of the American economy in a comprehensive manner by placing a "cap" on carbon emissions, forcing American industries to reduce their emissions by roughly 80 percent by 2050. If companies emit more or less, they are allowed to buy and sell or "trade" extra emission permits among themselves, much like barrels of oil are traded today.
I did not support this bill in committee and have chosen not to support it before the full House of Representatives. In fact, I was one of only four Democrats to vote against the bill in committee despite lobbying efforts and phone calls that I received from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. They did not send me to Congress, the people of Arkansas did, and that is why I voted for what I felt was in the best interest of Arkansas' 4th Congressional District….”
If you are one who has been complaining about not being heard, or that our politicians don’t represent the people, then I encourage you to MAKE SURE YOU ARE HEARD in this critical issue. It is time to besiege the offices of Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln with the wishes of their constituents, as a citizen of the state of Arkansas it is imperative that you make your views known. Don’t wait do it now. Call them, email them, and fax them, and do so every day for the next 30 days so there is no mistaking the voices of the people of Arkansas who sent them to Washington to represent us. Below is the contact info for each Senator.
Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D- AR)
202-224-4843
202-228-1371
http://lincoln.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
Senator Mark Pryor (D- AR)
202-224-2353
202-228-0908
http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/
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