2nd Letter to the Senate and the President on Cap and Trade

President Obama, Senator Feinstein, and Senator Boxer,

It is very unfortunate that many of you are really out of touch with your constituents. The energy bill, cap and trade, will do nothing more than place a burden on many of us that use energy to heat and cool our homes, commute to jobs, it is guaranteed to raise prices on all consumer goods, including food, as taxes levied on business will be pass on to the consumer, and bring job losses at a time when the job market is in turmoil. All of you in congress and the white house are part of an elite group that do not see any change or detrimental effect in your daily way of life or course of living; let’s face it, you have adequate financial means and security.

Here are the facts:

* Contrary to the flawed analyses being advanced by the bill's proponents, Heritage estimates that the direct costs would be an average of $829 per year for a household of four, totaling $20,000 between 2012 and 2035.
* But when considering the total cost as reflected in the cost of allocations and offsets, the average cost to that family unit would be $2,979 annually from 2012 to 2035.
* Adding insult and hypocrisy to injury, the bill would hurt the poor the worst because they would bear a disproportionate burden of the higher energy costs the bill would trigger.
* The bill is also projected to harm the manufacturing sector and cause estimated "net" job losses, averaging about 1.15 million between 2012 and 2030.
* The overall gross domestic product losses would average $393 billion per year from 2012 to 2035, and the cumulative loss in gross domestic product would be $9.4 trillion by 2035.
* The national debt for a family of four would increase by $115,000 by 2035.

Today, California has a budget shortfall of $24 billion and not just because of their over obligation to provide nanny state services but because of the overall state of the national economy and the loss of revenues from salaried individuals. Passing this bill would further endanger the states with less revenue from increased unemployment. And, most disturbingly, it would endanger the welfare of individuals who may lose their jobs and those who would bear the higher energy costs inflict by this bill.

The energy bill is supposed to decrease energy consumption by increasing taxes on carbon emissions; but in fact, for the average taxpayer, it will increase taxes that will affect normal day to day living. There is nothing in this bill that can help the average citizen to decrease their carbon footprint or decrease energy usage, unless it expects them to live in extreme heat and cold, eat less, not drive to work, and for many, remain unemployed or become unemployed. The fact is, average middle class citizens consume only what is needed for day to day living. This bill will unwisely increase taxes and leave every state, not just California, more vulnerable to reduced revenue and, individuals with losses in wages necessary to survive in this pitiful economy.

This is reality.