Jon Tester said he supports cap-and-trade, but also said he would protect Montana consumers. Just like a politician, Tester is trying to have it both ways. Unfortunately for Tester, you cannot vote both ways.
Tester has voted for multiple bills that support cap-and-trade and would subsequently threaten the economic future of Montana. As Warren Buffett put it, cap-and-trade is a “huge tax,” and the Obama administration concluded it would cost the average American household $1,761 a year. In Montana, cap-and-trade would increase the cost of utilities for 250,000 homes and businesses and could eliminate up to 8,600 jobs. Tester’s votes and his pledge to “protect” Montanans are blatantly inconsistent.
Tester Said He Generally Supports The Idea Of Cap-And-Trade. “Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus, both Democrats, say they generally support the idea of capping greenhouse gases, which are seen as a primary cause of global warming and climate change. President Barack Obama is behind the idea, as well. Tester and Baucus say Congress should act sooner rather than later on this thorny subject, not only because they believe climate change is harming the state, but also because they don’t want the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to trump Congress by creating EPA’s own rules this year for regulating greenhouse gases.” (Mike Dennison, “Next Up: Energy, Climate,” Missoulian, 2/14/10)
Tester Said There Needed To Be Climate Change Policy That Protected Montana Consumers. “[Tester] said that as a farmer he knows the effects of climate change. He echoed Baucus’ statements about the need for any climate change policy to protect Montanans. ‘It is clear from that meeting that Montana common sense and ingenuity will lead the way in developing new technologies to harness our natural resources,’ Tester said. ‘But I will look carefully at any bill that comes before the Senate to make sure it works for Montana’s consumers, small business, and family farms and ranches.’” (Tom Lutey, “Delegation Pressed On Climate, Energy,” The Billings Gazette, 2/5/10)
Tester Voted For The Cloture Motion For The Warner-Lieberman Cap-And-Trade Bill. “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the motion to proceed to the bill that would cap greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and set up a trading system for companies to buy and sell emissions allowances.” (S. 3036, CQ Vote # 141: Adopted 74-14: R 32-13; D 40-1; I 2-0, 6/2/08, Tester Voted Yea)
Tester Voted For Cloture On A Warner-Lieberman Amendment That Would Set Up A Nationwide Cap-And-Trade System. “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Boxer, D-Calif., substitute amendment no. 4825 that would cap greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and set up a trading system for companies to buy and sell emissions allowances.” (S 3036, CQ Vote #145: Rejected 48-36: R 7-32; D 39-4; I 2-0, 6/6/08, Tester Voted Yea)
- Lieberman-Warner Would Cost Montana 2,779 Manufacturing Jobs By 2030. (William Beach, David Kreutzer, Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas Loris, “How Montana Would Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation,” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org, 5/20/08))
- Lieberman-Warner Would Diminish Montana’s GDP $273.1 Million By 2030. (William Beach, David Kreutzer, Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas Loris, “How Montana Would Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation,” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org, 5/20/08))
- Lieberman-Warner Would Decrease The Personal Incomes Of Montanans $337.6 Million By 2030. (William Beach, David Kreutzer, Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas Loris, “How Montana Would Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation,” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org, 5/20/08)
- Under Lieberman-Warner Montanans Would Pay An Additional $399 (20%) For Gasoline By 2025. (William Beach, David Kreutzer, Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas Loris, “How Montana Would Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation,” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org, 5/20/08)
- Under Lieberman-Warner Montanans Would Pay An Additional $136 For Natural Gas By 2025. (William Beach, David Kreutzer, Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas Loris, “How Montana Would Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation,” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org, 5/20/08)
- Under Lieberman-Warner Montanans Would Pay An Additional $274 For Electricity By 2025. (William Beach, David Kreutzer, Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas Loris, “How Montana Would Be Affected by the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation,” The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org, 5/20/08)
An Obama Administration Study Concluded That Cap-And-Trade Would Be The Equivalent Of A 15 Percent Tax Increase, Or $1,761 On Average Per Family. “The Obama administration has privately concluded that a cap and trade law would cost American taxpayers up to $200 billion a year, the equivalent of hiking personal income taxes by about 15 percent. A previously unreleased analysis prepared by the U.S. Department of Treasury says the total in new taxes would be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year. At the upper end of the administration’s estimate, the cost per American household would be an extra $1,761 a year.” (Declan McCullagh, “Obama Admin: Cap And Trade Could Cost Families $1,761 A Year,” The Associated Press, 9/15/09)
Buffett Said Cap And Trade Was A “Huge Tax.” BECKY QUICK: “you didn’t like cap and trade especially in this economy though because it puts a tax on people? BUFFETT: “well I think, I think, if you get into the way it was written it’s a huge tax.” (CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” 6/24/09)
Tester Voted For A Bill To Allow Discretionary Spending For A Cap-And-Trade Program. “Adoption of the concurrent resolution that would set broad spending and revenue targets over the next five years. The resolution would allow up to $1.08 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2010 and increase discretionary spending by $490 billion over five years. It would assume a three-year adjustment to prevent additional taxpayers from paying the alternative minimum tax. It would create numerous exceptions to the discretionary spending limit, including one to allow for health care changes and one for a cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions. It also would assume a deficit of $1.7 trillion in fiscal 2009 and $1.2 trillion in fiscal 2010.” (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #154: Adopted 55-43; R 0-41; D 53-2; I 2-0, 4/2/09, Tester Voted Yea)
At Least 250,000 Montana Homes And Businesses Would See Their Utilities Increase If Energy Taxes Were Applied. “Cooperatives serve roughly 250,000 Montana homes and businesses and rely on coal power, which they fear will become extremely expensive under proposed greenhouse gas caps and pay-to-pollute policies.” (Tom Lutey, “Co-Ops Worry About Costs Of Cap-And-Trade Approach,” The Billings Gazette, 6/21/09)
Jake Cummins, Op-Ed: An Independent Economist Said Cap-And-Trade Would Cost Montana 8,600 Jobs. “In fact, when former Speaker Nancy Pelosi forced the House of Representatives to vote on it, not only did our only Congressman Denny Rehberg vote no, but he was joined by every single member from the surrounding states of Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. That includes both Republicans and Democrats. We are glad he did. An independent economist predicted that if cap-and-tax had passed, it would have cost Montana 8,600 jobs.” (Jake Cummins, Op-Ed, “Cap-And-Trade A Bad Deal For Energy-Producing States,” Great Falls Tribune, 5/9/11)