Devin Carroll - 2-14-2020 - Climate bills may bridge divide

Climate bills may bridge divide

No climate legislation will help unless it passes Congress. It must be bipartisan to pass a divided government and continue working as parties trade power in future elections.
Democrats have some good ideas in the Green New Deal, but they will not pass unless liberal Democrats sweep the 2020 elections.

Republicans have some good ideas about tax breaks for business innovations. They could be included in a legislative package, but will not be viewed as enough by themselves.

Currently Congress is considering five bills that place a fee on production of coal, petroleum and natural gas. Authors and co-sponsors come from both parties. Some use the money to reduce payroll taxes, or pay for climate-related infrastructure, or help displaced workers such as coal miners. But the most popular idea is to give dividends to the people. This has broad backing from both conservative and liberal economists.

HR 763 is the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. With 75 co-sponsors, this legislation has the most support in Congress.

Both parties want to reduce carbon emissions. This bridge issue is an opportunity to show they can work together to solve problems. This is what Americans want.

Devin Carroll, Fresno
Feb. 14,2020

 https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article240249066.html

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