Bill Text: GA SR801 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: U.S. Congress; Cap and Trade legislation; request to avoid passing an energy tax that hurts all Americans
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-03-30 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR801 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-SR801-Enrolled.html
10 LC
94 1638
Senate
Resolution 801
By:
Senators Pearson of the 51st, Shafer of the 48th, Rogers of the 21st, Mullis of
the 53rd, Hudgens of the 47th and others
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
the negative impact Cap and Trade legislation would have upon Georgia and
requesting that the United States Congress avoid passing an energy tax that
hurts all Americans; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the United States Congress is considering legislation entitled the "American
Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009," more commonly known as Cap and Trade
legislation; and
WHEREAS,
while proponents of Cap and Trade legislation claim it aims to reduce carbon
emissions and decrease the spread of global warming, the legislation is actually
an energy tax aimed at deterring Americans and Georgians from consuming energy
and will result in increased utility bills, slowed economic growth, and a
decrease in job creation; and
WHEREAS,
this alleged environmentally friendly legislation fails to consider that a large
portion of carbon emissions that result in global warming are produced not by
the production of energy such as natural gas, coal, and oil, but from cropland
and forest conversion; and
WHEREAS,
to achieve the desired 15 percent carbon reduction stipulated by the
legislation, the proposed energy tax would cost households an estimated
$1,870.00 by 2020 and $6,800.00 by 2035, disproportionately burdening lower
income Georgians; and
WHEREAS,
the passage of Cap and Trade legislation would increase price volatility in
carbon fuels and increase production costs for American foods, drastically
impacting Georgia's vital poultry industry; and
WHEREAS,
Cap and Trade legislation will result in higher fuel, fertilizer, and energy
costs for American farmers, greatly hindering the agricultural industry's
ability to compete with foreign markets which have virtually no environmental
restriction standards; and
WHEREAS,
instead of helping the environment, Cap and Trade legislation will encourage
widespread deforestation in order to secure biofuels to replace natural gas,
coal, and oil, ultimately impacting the Chattahoochee and Oconee National
Forests; and
WHEREAS,
it is projected that the passage of Cap and Trade legislation would result in
the loss of over 50,000 jobs in Georgia, an increase in household utility costs
of $676.00 per household through 2035, and a state personal income loss of over
$5.5 billion; and
WHEREAS,
Cap and Trade legislation will cripple the American economy by burdening
innovation, diminishing flexibility, hindering the free market, and discouraging
enterprise, while doing little to slow global warming.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body request
that the Georgia congressional delegation oppose Cap and Trade legislation that
will excessively tax the energy consumption of hard working Georgians and burden
the agricultural industry upon which this nation was built.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to each member of the Georgia
congressional delegation.
