SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 1

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KRAUS .

6005L.02I

      Whereas, the availability and affordability of energy is crucial to the viability of Missouri's automotive industries which depend on stable and reliable energy costs to keep their operations running; and

            Whereas, any policy that would drive up the costs of energy would significantly harm Missouri's automotive industries, causing additional economic hardship at a time when Missouri's economy is already strained; and

            Whereas, proposed legislation in the United States Congress to implement a mandatory cap and trade emissions trading system would establish a cap on greenhouse gas emissions, requiring those who emit greenhouse gases to purchase government credits to offset emissions, and allow those emitters to trade or sell those credits; and

            Whereas, the State of Missouri produces more than 80% of its electricity from the combustion of coal. As a result, the cap and trade program would result in massive increases in energy costs for Missouri's automotive industries because of the increased cost to produce electricity from coal will be markedly higher; and

            Whereas, these increases in energy costs will effectively act as a regressive energy tax on Missouri's automotive industries; and

            Whereas, Missouri currently enjoys a relatively low cost of energy. The proposed cap and trade plan will make Missouri less attractive to automotive industries and damage Missouri's ability to attract and retain jobs in automotive manufacturing. Missouri needs to position itself as a state that is welcoming to economic development and does not act in a way that is detrimental to the job creation and retention by the automotive industry in this state; and

            Whereas, the cap and trade program as proposed would likely result in the loss of a substantial number of jobs in the automotive industry in Missouri, resulting in a decrease in state revenue which will exacerbate an already serious budget situation; and

            Whereas, in establishing national policies, Congress should strive to develop policies that do not cause sudden and severe impacts on the welfare and economies of certain states and regions:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, First Extraordinary Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly urge the Congress of the United States and the Missouri Congressional delegation to refuse to enact cap and trade legislation that would be harmful to Missouri's automotive industries by substantially and significantly raising energy costs used in the manufacture of automobiles; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for Barack Obama, President of the United States; the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.