Comments for Pelosi, Waxman, Markey, Slaughter Triumph

Pelosi, Waxman, Markey, Slaughter Triumph

2009-06-27T02:45:03Z

The margin of victory was small, but the significant can't be understated: in passing the largest and most ambitious overhaul to the nation's energy policy in decades, Democrats in the House of Representatives are celebrating a genuine policy accomplishment. The bill is so big, so audacious, even in its watered down form, that if it somehow manages to pass the Senate, it will almost immediately change the lives and lifestyle of every American, the fortunes of major industries, and the economic future of regions, cities and towns. That's one of the reasons why opponents -- not opponents who thought it didn't go far enough, but the ones who were opposed to the cap-and-trade idea itself -- went to great lengths to fight back against it. This is one of those bills that does something.
]]> Conor Clarke and Jim Manzi should give you a good representation of the arguments -- but from the perspective of institutional politics, I'd say that the winners tonight are Speaker Nancy Pelosi's ability to corral her caucus behind legislation that would disproportionately hurt some of their districts is perhaps the greatest accomplishment of her tenure; the persistence of Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, who insisted on moving this bill forward even though the White House was skeptical, and the nimble rulemaking of Louise Slaughter, who managed the amendments process in a way that gave just enough Republicans and Democrats just enough of a reason to support it. It's on to the Senate, where longtime climate skeptic James Inhofe says it's DOA. We will see.

Comment from ceolas on 2009-06-27

2009-06-27T21:20:08Z

Marc,
About:
"the ones who were opposed to the cap-and-trade idea itself -- went to great lengths to fight back against it"

Yes and hardly a word about all the energy efficiency legislation
in it! Buildings, dishwashers, washing machines, light bulbs -even catering equipment and furnaces!

Energy efficiency legislation is supposed to be "great at lowering electricity bills"

Right, ban consumers from buying what they want and applaud the savings!
(Little savings in banning impopular products, and inefficient products need to be popular or noone would buy them, classic example Edison’s light bulb, bought 19 times out of 20 in the USA and therefore a banning priority with a big section 211 all to its own in the Waxman-Markey Bill!).

The fact is that efficiency regulation on a product sacrifices performance, construction, appearance and price features, and does not necessarily give the savings suggested anyway.

See
http://ceolas.net/#cc2x
onwards regarding efficiency regulation effect on buildings, lightbulbs, cars, dishwashers and other products.

Comment from ppl on 2009-07-15

2009-07-15T14:27:43Z

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