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2/26/2010
Montgomery: What’s the “Scaled Back” Version of the Global Warming Bill?
For months, a broad bipartisan coalition of legislators and advocacy groups representing utility customers, Main Street businesses and hometown Wisconsin employers have been warning Governor Doyle about the devastating consequences of his Global Warming legislation on the state’s fragile economy. Last week’s comments by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett that the bill should not be passed until it’s “significantly changed” has finally convinced Governor Doyle and his legislative Democrat allies to abandon the bill in its current form. This is a welcome sign, however, I am still very concerned and let me explain why.
The new catch-phrase attached to the Global Warming bill is “scaling back.” From Governor Doyle on down, legislative Democrats all agree the legislation needs to be scaled backed. This begs the question of what constitutes a scaled down version of the Governor Doyle’s Global Warming legislation. No one really knows the answer to that question, but one thing is quite clear – Governor Doyle’s priority is the new state government mandate requiring 25% of Wisconsin’s energy to come from renewable resources by 2025.
Unfortunately, this is the single most expensive job-killing mandate in the entire bill. Trained economists at the Boston-based Beacon Hill Institute have concluded this provision will drive up energy costs by over $16 billion and result in the loss of over 43,000 Wisconsin jobs. With record high unemployment, we cannot afford to take any action that will drive more good-paying jobs out of Wisconsin. Furthermore, with families throughout Wisconsin struggling to make ends meet in this tough economy driving up the cost of monthly electric bills is hardly a step in right direction.
Just yesterday, the editors at the Janesville Gazette wrote a wonderful op-ed piece on Governor Doyle’s Global Warming bill. Here’s just a sampling of their insightful comments:
…with so many residents out of work, and those with jobs finding their incomes and benefits dwindling, people are struggling to pay their bills on time. How will they pay the higher utility bills that this act almost certainly will bring?
The Badger State cannot solve global warming on its own. We fear that too many provisions might put Wisconsin at a competitive disadvantage.
Rather than race to pass Jim Doyle’s signature legislation before the governor leaves office, Democrats who control both houses of the Legislature must step back and study the potential ramifications thoroughly. They must make sure each piece of the Clean Energy Jobs Act makes economic sense and doesn’t create unintended consequences that put companies at disadvantages and cost us more jobs.
I could not have said better myself. Hopefully, Governor Doyle and his allies in the State Legislature will take these comments seriously if, or when, they offer a “scaled down” version of the Global Warming legislation for further legislative consideration. Rest assured, government mandates and regulations that drive out jobs and drive up the cost of energy aren’t likely to receive any bipartisan legislative support.
Phil.Montgomery is a Republican and represents the residents of the 4th Assembly District.
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