Ag Committee Discusses Waxman-Markey Bill
Lucas urges taking time to understand consequences.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jun 12, 2009
The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing Thursday on the much talked about Waxman-Markey climate change and energy legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Energy Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., want to push the bill through rather quickly. But, Agriculture Committee Ranking Member, Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said the most important thing to be done for the agriculture community is to allow the legislative process to work, to take the time to understand the consequences of these actions.
Lucas said Thursday was the first public hearing to consider a bill that is written to last forever. This is a bill that is enormous in size and consequence that has the potential to permanently damage the standard of living for every man, woman, and child for decades to come.
Lucas pointed out that the cap-and-trade part of the bill creates a national energy tax that will do more harm to production agriculture, American industry, and our standard of living than it will do any good for the environment. As for its affect on agriculture, Lucas said he can not support a bill that will damage an industry that consistently provides America and the world with an abundant and affordable food and fiber supply.
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