Green Dog Dems Defend Clean Energy Economy

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/04/07/green-upton-inhofe/ 4/6/11: During debate on the Upton-Inhofe bill H.R. 910 to block climate pollution rules, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) support a green economic future for United States manufacturing, debunking the myths of a hapless Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).

Transcript:
DOYLE: Just two days ago, a report came out, saying: "China to Tax Energy Usage of Energy-Intensive Industries." "China will impose a tax on energy usage of eight industrial sectors," including "iron and steel, aluminum and cement." Madame Speaker, "Xie Zhenhua, the vice chairman of national development and reform, said that China has launched pilot carbon emission trading schemes in some of their provinces." So much for this idea that all these jobs are going to China because there's no taxing there or they're not looking at a trading scheme. ...

KINZINGER: The fact that China, India, and other developing countries have no intention of imposing similar regulations is further evidence that such regulations are costly and economically damaging. ...

DOYLE: Maybe he wasn't here when I read the fact that China is imposing a tax on their industries, is looking at cap and trade. ...

RYAN: And I've been sitting here listening, and you have several members over there saying China isn't going to do cap and trade. The fact is, they're starting to do it. China's never going to tax carbon. The fact is, they're starting to do it. And now we have dropped from first place in leading the green revolution, to second, and now to third, behind China, Germany, and now: the United States. These are manufacturing jobs. Tons and tons of steel go into a windmill. Eight thousand component parts. They manufacture them in Illinois, in Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These are jobs for our people. Why else would the United Steelworkers of the America be against this and be for the green revolution? We're making this happen, and we've got to get out of our own way while we do it. ...

KINZINGER: I think green energy future is a code word for a no jobs, no manufacturing jobs future. ...

INSLEE: It is deeply disappointing that our Republican colleagues are so willing, able, and apparently eager to shut down the government. This bill fundamentally shuts down the government. It shuts down the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to help lead us into a clean energy future. Why shut down the agency that can help develop these biofuels that we were just talking about? Why do they want to shut down the engine of innovation? Shutting down the government is not a solution. Shutting down the EPA is not a solution. Shutting down American innovation is not a solution. ...

KINZINGER: This does not shut -- this doesn't change the Clean Air Act at all -- this prevents them from going outside the legislative will of the American people and implementing a legislative piece of -- an idea. ...

RYAN: We hear a lot from the other side about Ronald Reagan and I know they burn incense and light candles to Ronald Reagan. In the 1980s, it was President Reagan who used cap-and-trade for leaded gasoline. George Herbert Walker Bush used cap-and-trade for sulfur. This is something that can be done if we put a price on this stuff. Lead the world, not be led. ...

DOYLE: Let's work together to find solutions to protect our industries while we clean up our environment for our kids and our grandkids.

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• Mike Doyle
• Tim Ryan
• Jay Inslee
• Adam Kinzinger
• manufacturing
• green economy
• clean energy jobs
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• politics