Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) says the cap-and-trade
legislation now being considered in Congress would establish a
'global warming Gestapo.'
The House Energy and Commerce Committee continued its ongoing debate and discussion about the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454). The act would cut greenhouse emissions by 17 percent over the next 11 years and by 83 percent by midcentury in an attempt to slow manmade climate change.
In an interesting turn of events during the debate yesterday, Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) issued a warning saying, “we’re setting up a global warming Gestapo.” The comment was made in reference to Section 201 of the act which establishes a national building code. Under that code, the Secretary of Energy would have the power to assess civil penalties for buildings that do not meet the new code.
- Watch video of Rep. Scalise's comments below
- Slideshow: Battle lines a drawn over global warming - Who fights on each side?
- Read it for yourself: American Clean Energy and Security Act
Scalise described a situation where a home that was destroyed by a natural disaster was rebuilt but with superior material than were dictated by the new national building code. According to Scalise, the homeowner would be in violation of federal law, even if the material exceeded the federal standard.
Now living in your home is considered unlawful under this bill.
~ Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)
"The federal government can come in and inspect your house and send you the bill. And if they find that you’re out of compliance with this new federal code, 'The Secretary shall assess a civil penalty for violations of this section,'" Scalise said. "Now living in your home is considered unlawful under this bill. This is ludicrous."
Taking his argument a step further, Scalise called into question the very constitutionality of the measure. He reminded his fellow congressmen that the 10th Amendment to the Constitution says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to states respectively or to the people.”
This bill comes in and basically says throw out the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
~ Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)
By creating its own enforcement measures and own building code that will usurp those which states have already established, the act stands to violate the Constitution. Scalise said, "This bill comes in and basically says throw out the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the federal government’s gonna throw out your building code."
Section 201 of the measure is being opposed by the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the National Apartment Association as well as a number of other related organizations. They warn that the new authority the federal government grants themselves could make homeowners liable for their homes not meeting the new standards. The chilling effect of this is that the ‘global warming Gestapo’ Rep. Scalise warns about could drag you into federal court.
Video: Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) expresses concern over enforcement measures in the cap-and-tax bill
Comments
No patriotic and informed American can support the global warming/cap and trade scam, more fraudulent than any Nigerian scam. Cap and trade is a huge tax on the poor and the middle class designed to give the powers of a dictator to Obama and to further enrich his billionaire friends (Gore, Soros, Goldman Sachs, Obama’s Chicago Climate Exchange friends, GE, etc.)
Cap and Trade “would be the equivalent of an atomic bomb directed at the U.S. economy—all without any scientific justification,” sa
Cap and Trade “would be the equivalent of an atomic bomb directed at the U.S. economy—all without any scientific justification,” says famed climatologist Dr. S. Fred Singer. It would significantly increase taxes and the cost of energy, forcing many companies to close, thus increasing unemployment, poverty and dependence.
Those brainwashed to the point of wanting to destroy the economy to "prevent global warming" are behaving like the most primitive human beings, who allowed their witch doctors to kill and sacrifice their own people believing that killing and sacrificing others would ensure them good weather. Human beings don't have the power to control climate! And killing the economy does not help the environment. Just look at Haiti!
This is filled with the ramblings of a Congressman intent on protecting big business - nothing more. The globe is in crisis and something needs to be done NOW.
Do they honestly not understand that lowering C02 emissions will have no effect on the climate? The most that saturating the atmosphere to it's limit of C02 will do is raise the temperature of the planet by 1 degree F. We are halfway there. Cutting emissons will do ...what?
Quoting:
"This is filled with the ramblings of a Congressman intent on protecting big business - nothing more. The globe is in crisis and something needs to be done NOW."
Commenting:
The globe has been much warmer, the globe has been much cooler. CO2 has been much higher and much lower. Manmade CO2 is insignificant. The globe is not in crisis.
Have the courage to do nothing. (Lord Monckton)
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