Cap and Dividend Policy Update #23

From the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Mike Tidwell, director

Compiled and edited by Ted Glick, CCAN Policy Director

January 25, 2011

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network produces and distributes this periodic policy update on efforts to advance “cap and dividend” legislation in the U.S. Congress. The fight for this climate policy is currently being led on Capitol Hill by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). In December, 2009 these Senators introduced the Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal Act, or CLEAR Act. Learn more at http://www.supportclearact.org.

In This Issue:

#1.  Scientific American editors support CLEAR Act

#2.  Senator Cantwell questions Douglas Holtz-Eakin

#3.  A Fair Way to Prevent Climate Change and End Poverty

#4.  Cap-and-Trade’s Last Hurrah

#5.  The Common Good

#1.  Scientific American editors support CLEAR Act:  “Opponents of proposals to cap carbon emissions argue that such measures would be a drag on the economy. But action on climate change is simple prudence. Doing nothing carries risks that outweigh the cost of phasing out emissions. Politicians should accept that calculation because the science that supports it is strong. They should also consider adopting sensible, market-friendly climate and energy measures. Options include the bipartisan ‘cap and dividend’ bill proposed by Senator Susan M. Collins of Maine and Senator Maria Cant­well of Washington State—a revenue-neutral approach that would auction carbon permits and return the proceeds to taxpayers—and a low-carbon-electricity standard, which would give states more options for generating clean power.” For the full article go to:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-political-wish-list

#2.  Senator Cantwell questions Douglas Holtz-Eakin:  On July 14^th of last year Senator Maria Cantwell questioned Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was John McCain’s chief economic policy advisor during his 2008 Presidential campaign. Holtz-Eakin is also a former Director of the Congressional Budget Office. The questioning took place during a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. To see the four minute video click here:

http://mariacantwell.on-the-rag.com/2011/01/15/watch-expert-says-climate-bill-like-cantwells-clear-act-better-than-epa-regulation/

#3.  A Fair Way to Prevent Climate Change and End Poverty, by Rene Heeskens:   “Prevention of climate change can be used to finance poverty eradication. How? By giving all people worldwide a dividend paid from the revenue of auctioning CO2 permits. Such an ‘earth dividend’ could provide all people with a minimum monthly payment sufficient for basic needs. Poverty eradication and environmental protection could then go hand in hand. Such a system is generally referred to as ‘cap and dividend’.” For the full article by the Managing Director of the Global Basic Income Foundation, go to:

http://www.thinkafricapress.com/article/fair-way-prevent-climate-change-and-end-poverty

#4.  Cap-and-Trade’s Last Hurrah: “Other Republicans may think it better to wait before re-establishing the party’s green credentials. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, for example, is happy to talk about climate as a problem, and talks about the desirability of some sort of carbon restriction—perhaps a tax, or some version of Maria Cantwell’s “cap-and-dividend” scheme. But she expresses no great urgency about the subject.” For the full article go to:

http://energydeals.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/cap-and-trades-last-hurrah/

#5.  The Common Good, by Wendy Gordon: “If we’re able to move from corporate ownership of the sky to common ownership, then rather than ‘subsidizing’ industry to dump carbon freely into the atmosphere, we’d be able to collect ‘rent’ from polluters and share it amongst all of us. Such a proposal came before Congress in 2010, but was shelved along with all other energy/climate proposals.” For the full article go to:

http://www.onearth.org/blog/the-common-good

 
CCAN encourages readers of the Cap and Dividend Policy Update to distribute it to others who might be interested. We welcome input on the contents of this publication and ideas for what could be included. Send to Ted Glick at ted@chesapeakeclimate.org. To find out more about CCAN go to http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org.