At a press conference this morning, a number of business and interest groups announced the formation of a new coalition to oppose cap-and-trade public policy. The No Cap-and-Trade Coalition says it will kick-off its campaign with a new advertisement and website (NoCapAndTrade.com).
The website includes a petition that visitors can sign to express their opposition to the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill and the United Nation's proposed climate treaty expected to be debated in Copenhagen this December. The group is also bringing a localized educational program to areas of the state, featuring the new global warming documentary film, "Not Evil, Just Wrong."
The coalition's website also includes a campaign to boycott 20 organizations that are supporting cap-and-trade. Companies that are part of the boycott include Starbucks, The Gap, ebay, Levi's and Nike amongst others.
The No Cap-and-Trade Coalition consists of several non-partisan, non-profit organizations who are concerned about the devastating impact a cap-and-trade scheme could have on American families and the faltering US economy. "We need energy to turn things around," explained Linda Runbeck of the Minnesota Free Market institute, "a massive new tax on energy is the last thing we need right now. Cap-and-trade would be destructive to our economy."
At the onset, cap-and-trade is projected to cost the average family over $1,700 per year in new energy costs, growing to over $6,000 per year by 2035. Independent analyses of cap-and-trade proposals project the loss of millions of additional jobs and trillions of dollars out of the nation's GDP. "Cap-and-trade is a huge tax on everything," said Minnesota Majority president Jeff Davis.
Proponents say that cap-and-trade will prevent 1/10th of a degree of warming in 100 years. "That doesn't seem like a very worthwhile investment," said Phil Krinkie, president of the Taxpayer's League of Minnesota. "We'd be making extraordinary sacrifices over unproven, contested theories and even if you buy into carbon-driven global warming, the pay off is insignificant. It's not worth the cost."
Current members of the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition include Associated Builders and Contractors, Freedom Foundation, Minnesota Free Market Institute, Campaign for Liberty, Taxpayer's League of Minnesota, Minnesota Majority and Minnesota Family Council among others. The coalition is open to any organization that supports the mission of defeating cap-and-trade public policy.
Take Action: Visit www.NoCapAndTrade.com to sign the petition, participate in the boycott and find more information.
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