MARC MORANO

MATT DEMPSEY

(202) 224-9797 matthew_dempsey@epw.senate.gov   

Committee Mark-Up Exposes Serious Flaws in Lieberman-Warner Bill 

Enormous Floor Fight Awaits As Key Issues Side-Stepped

WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today commented on the Committee’s passage of Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007, S. 2191.  

“For the first time in history, a fatally flawed global warming cap-and-trade bill was passed out of committee,” Senator Inhofe said. “Not only is the entire cap-and-trade approach fatally flawed, but the Lieberman-Warner bill failed to improve today, as Democrat amendments were added. Instead of engaging in substantive debate, the Democrats’ chose to simply reject all serious efforts to mitigate the unintended consequences of this bill and ensure adequate future energy supplies for this nation.  

“The rejection of key amendments has guaranteed an enormous floor fight as many major issues were side-stepped. While the vote today was never in question, it did provide an opportunity for Republicans to expose the serious deficiencies of this bill.  The full Senate now needs to look at a cost-benefit analysis of this bill. It is simply all economic pain for no climate gain. Numerous analyses have placed the costs at trillions of dollars. Even if you accept the dire claims of man-made global warming, this bill would not have a measurable impact on the climate.  

“Republicans, in a good faith effort, offered a conservative number of amendments to address the most important flaws in this bill. Unfortunately, they were rejected. As is, this bill will strike a devastating blow to American families, American jobs, and the American way of life.  

“We have had approximately 20 climate hearings on the impacts of climate change, but none on so called ‘solutions.’ Differing approaches to reducing emissions were never discussed. Instead, the Committee rushed to a single approach, without the aid of government analyses. 

“Within seven years, electricity prices are estimated to skyrocket 35 to 65 percent and will have a huge economic hit on households. These costs are far greater than the McCain-Lieberman bill that was voted down by the Senate two years ago. Additionally, the poor will be the hardest hit as they pay about five times more per month, as a percentage of their monthly expenditures, compared to wealthier Americans. By 2015 this bill is estimated to cost up to 2.3 million jobs, and these lost jobs will go to China, India, and other emerging nations without carbon limits.   

Senator Inhofe also commented on key amendments that failed today.   

1) “The Democrats voted against help for poor Americans.” (Bond Amendment #1 - LINK) 

2) “The Democrats voted against the American autoworker jobs.” (Inhofe Amendment #13 - LINK)  

3) “The Democrats voted against promoting clean technologies like nuclear.” (Inhofe Amendment #23, Craig Amendment #27 - LINK)   

4) “The Democrats voted against ensuring adequate supply of natural gas.” (Vitter Amendment #1 - LINK)   

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