State Withdrawal from Regional Climate Initiatives Exposed

The Resolution in favor of State Withdrawal from Regional Climate Initiatives was adopted by ALEC's Natural Resources Task Force in St. Louis, MO on April 23, 2010, approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on May 4, 2010.

CMD's Bill Summary

This resolution is classic climate change denier language. If the sentiments of the resolution were adopted, it would provide cover for states to pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or the Western Climate Initiative.

ALEC Resolution Text

WHEREAS, there has been no credible economic analysis of the costs associated with carbon reduction mandates and the consequential effect of the increasing costs of doing business in the State of ______;

WHEREAS, forcing business, industry, and food producers to reduce carbon emissions through government mandates and cap-and-trade policies under consideration for the regional climate initiative will increase the cost of doing business, push companies to do business with other states or nations, and increase consumer costs for electricity, fuel, and food;

WHEREAS, the Congressional Budget Office warns that the cost of cap-and-trade policies will be borne by consumers and will place a disproportionately high burden on poorer families;

WHEREAS, simply reducing carbon emissions in the State of ______ will not have a significant impact on international carbon reduction, especially while countries like China, Russia, Mexico, and India emit an ever-increasing amount of carbon into the atmosphere;

WHEREAS, a tremendous amount of economic growth would be sacrificed for a reduction in carbon emissions that would have no appreciable impact on global concentrations of CO2;

WHEREAS, no state or nation has enhanced economic opportunities for its citizens or increased Gross Domestic Product through cap and trade or other carbon reduction policies; and

WHEREAS, Europe’s cap and trade system has been undermined by political favoritism, accounting tricks and has failed to achieve the carbon reduction targets,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the legislature of the State of ______ urges the Governor to withdraw [state] from the regional climate initiative.

(Adopted by the Natural Resources Task Force in St. Louis, MO, on April 23, 2010.)

(Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on May 4, 2010)