Tax hike for climate change

Rep. John Dingell, 81, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is proposing a "50-cent gasoline tax, a carbon tax and scaling back tax breaks for some home owners." (Washington Post, hat tip hubby)

"I'm trying to have everybody understand that this is going to cost and that it's going to have a measure of pain that you're not going to like," Rep. John Dingell, who is marking his 52nd year in Congress, said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press.

Dingell will offer a "discussion draft" outlining his tax proposals on Thursday, the same day that President Bush holds a two-day conference to discuss voluntary efforts to combat climate change.

Dingell said he's not sure what the final climate package will include when the House takes it up for a vote. The taxes measures he's proposing, in fact, will be taken up by another House committee. And the Senate is considering a market-based system that would set an economy-wide ceiling on the amount of carbon dioxide that would be allowed to be released.

Dingell says he hasn't rule out such a so-called "cap-and-trade" system, either, but that at least for now he wants to float what he believes is a better idea. He will propose for discussion:

_A 50-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline and jet fuel, phased in over five years, on top of existing taxes.

_A tax on carbon, at $50 a ton, released from burning coal, petroleum or natural gas.

_Phaseout of the interest tax deduction on home mortgages for homes over 3,000 square feet. Owners would keep most of the deduction for homes at the lower end of the scale, but it would be eliminated entirely for homes of 4,200 feet or more.

He estimates that would affect 10 percent of homeowners. He says "it's only fair" to tax those who buy large suburban houses and create urban sprawl. Historic and farm houses would be exempted.

Some of the revenue would be used to reduce payroll taxes, but most would go elsewhere including for highway construction, mass transit, paying for Social Security and health programs and to help the poor pay energy bills.

In the interview Wednesday, Dingell acknowledged he's tackling some of the most sacred of political cows. He's not sure if they will end up in the climate legislation, but he wants to open them for discussion. (more) (emphasis mine)

OK, I know we have readers here at Right Truth who are on both sides of global warming - climate change. Let me hear from all of you. What do you think about these proposals.

Others:
Democrat Rep. John Dingell Exposes the True Agenda Behind Global Warming, Wake Up America, who says, "This scares the hell out of me!"
Powerline
How to Fight Climate Change if You’re a Democrat, Say Anything Reader Blogs
Is the Sun Setting on Federal Carbon Tax Legislation? Is John Dingell to Blame?, Talking Taxes
Little Ole' Lady's says, "And folks.. you are about to be screwed once again by the demoralcrats.. er.. demoroncrats.. er.. demoncrats.. (oh forget it)!"
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Comments

[suek]

I'm still waiting for someone to start pushing for "Global Warming Gardens"...you know - something like the "Victory Gardens" of WWII. Good exercise, fresh air, fresh vegetables, and best of all, no fuel requirements to get it to you - unlike the vegetables at the grocery store.
In other words, the idea of "use it up, wear it out, make it do" is absent. Instead, what we have is "just give us money to make up for your "sins", and we'll make it right". Of course, they'll also make it so that only a chosen few can "sin" but that's ok ...they're the _chosen_ ones.

[Rosemary' Thoughts]

Dear Debbie,
Your trackbacker keeps telling me that your GET won't allow my trackbacks. What did I do? Is there anyway I can make it better? lol. I know. You probably have about as much of an idea as I do, but I just wanted you to know I tried. ;)

[Debbie]

Steven: You must be confused, but thanks for the comment anyway. This guy is a Democrat, a liberal. There's nothing neocon about raising taxes for something that doesn't really exist. That's the liberals. Come back and explain yourself, please. I'm confused.

[Grouch at Right Truth]

Ummmm, it's news to me that Dingell is a neocon. Silly me, I thought he was a liberal Democrat all this time.

What the hell is a neocon anyway?

[Steven]

What an ignorant Neocon concept! Tax us on an intangible, and the money will be blown, I mean carefuly spent on what effort to kill the sheeple, I mean fix the planet? I wish these neocon puppets would stop rying to stael our money under the guise of bettering our planet. Just another intangible war against a fake enemy, like the war on drugs, terrorism, and now, global warming! IDIOTS!