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Peterson lets constituency down
Published 12:00 p.m., July 7, 2009
Bill H.R. 2454 or the Cap & Trade Bill narrowly passed the U.S. House, Minnesota Congressman, Collin Peterson, voting for it. At first, Congressman Peterson led the farm lobby in a fight to defeat the legislation. We now know he was grandstanding. Following Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s vigorous arm twisting and a cornucopia of promised goodies added in the last few days, Collin Peterson dropped his phantom fight against this intrusive bill and voted to stab his home constituency in the back. The Waxman-Markey bill as it is also be called, (Representatives Henry Waxman, D-Calif. and Edward Markey, D-Mass.) sets the stage for the largest tax increase in American history and most serious of government intrusive power in America’s lifetime since the British Government's Stamp Act and Tea Tax Act.
Clearly the future killer of American Industry and Small Business, H.R. 2454 herald’s the most gigantic change-over in national wealth from the people of the United States to overseas interests. Fortunately, this Bill must still survive a Senate vote before becoming law; however we must never forget that Collin Peterson voted to gain Nancy Pelosi’s good favor, against his own people.
Rammed home with little debate, a Waxman 300 page amendment attached to the bill at 3 o’clock in the wee hours of the last morning, left house members with no time to study the amendment before voting. Nancy Pelosi had to be gloating as her Collin Peterson voted to increase your electric bills and future taxes! He was her man!
At a time when our nation’s economy needs recovery with more conventional jobs and steady paychecks, the House Democrats ram home this extreme legislation that allows your government to increase your taxes on every level imaginable --including the emission limits from your personal car, your wife’s car, your kid’s car, your home, your work place, or your business. Even the local pizza delivery boy might have to pay extra tax as the emissions from his vehicle increases. If they can think it up, they can now tax it! The very nature of this bill and its secretive amendment is personally intrusive, allowing the government to lay future penalty taxes on just about anything they can imagine. H.R. 2454 will allow this government a long reach into every American home and business for so called penalty taxations. And Collin Peterson voted in favor of this government that intrusive right!
Remember this: when Trade limits are reached by any industrial plant, a steep penalty tax is assessed to produce past those limits. The factory is faced with only a few options: possible shut down or paying those heavy tax penalties -- or they can just buy the foreign replacement and pass on that expense to the consumer. When that factory shuts down to save paying those increased taxes, foreign interests will reap the profits transferring the wealth outside the U.S. All the same, Collin Peterson forgets who has elected him, forgets who needs him, and votes for Nancy Pelosi.
Small business industry will be faced with the same increased penalty taxations. Small business is the hub of small towns everywhere in America. These small towns cannot afford to lose these smaller industries and the jobs they bring to the community. We cannot afford penalty taxation! When that small American factory shuts down due to such penalty taxation, it is our community that suffers the loss of wealth. Collin Peterson voted to do just that!
When you get laid off from your job, or watch your employer forcing a slow-down in production, or you have to shut your own business down because your supplier’s have shut down, or slowed production, or pay the tax penalties or lay off your workers, you will be able to look back at this vote for H.R. 2454, and know that Nancy Pelosi escorted Collin Peterson by the nose in voting, Yes. Collin Peterson let us all down.
Please call your U.S. Senator and urge them to vote this atrocious bill down.
David Adams
Fergus Falls Businessman
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by proterrorist (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
David you made a valiant effort but you have your facts completely wrong. First of all, Collin Peterson and his Blue Dog coalition in the House were the ones holding this bill up for several weeks prior to it passing. He was the one twisting Pelosi's arm, not the other way around. It wasn't until the caucus caved in and gave him (lots of goodies for biofuels and agribusiness industries) what he wanted that the bill was finally able to pass.
As far as this being the 'largest tax increase in history,' a $175 annual cost per household (CBO estimate) would hardly qualify. The overall cost of this bill pales in comparison to the amount of money we spend occupying foreign countries every year- while the effects of global warming will present far more tangible threats to our national security than some guys in caves.
The bill is far from perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. The negative consequences are being completely overblown. Of course the only reason that so many people believe that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will impose an enormous burden on the economy is that the oil and coal industry, and their friends in the media, have been pushing this tripe for more than a decade. Apparently the oil and gas companies concern for small businesses and families is pure altruism and nothing else- so we had better take their word for it and assume that all of the liberals in Washington are just out to screw us over. Way to think this one through, David.
Posted by cascade (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whew - I'm glad the CBO chimed in - they are usually dead on.
Posted by thethinker (Todd Leucuta) on July 7, 2009 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Taxing vehicle emissions is wrong. Adding amendments to bills without allowing congress to look them over is wrong (but happens ALL the time). The "green" movement has taken over logical, cognitive thinking and rational scientific debate to the point that if you refute any aspect of "global warming" you are loudly shouted down and told you are wrong. Certainly there is evidence to support planetary warming-as well as evidence to the contrary. However, a century of organized scientific atmospheric study does not equate to thorough knowledge of global weather patterns as they have - and will - change thru the ages. But I digress, the bill does allow further taxation of activities in the future and I am against it. Taxing peoples driving habits via "emissions odometers" or miles they drive in a year is a poor way to make us a "greener" society. It makes tremendously more sense to continue exploring alternative energy while at the same time working on cleaner, and more efficient, petroleum based energy sources. It is indeed folly to throw the baby (petroleum) out with the bathwater when your well cannot sufficiently supply water (alternative energy).
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 9:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone voting for this bill should be GONE in the next election.
Posted by votedem (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fear! Fear! Grab your bibles and shotguns!
Posted by liberty (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Peterson was promising constituents the day of the vote that he would not vote for it. This is just another bill that Pelosi promised to publish days in advance, then ammended too late to be read and debated (and aired in the press).
"Americans should know that those Members who vote for this climate bill are voting for what is likely to be the biggest tax in American history. Even Democrats can't repeal that reality."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12458883...
Posted by dutchsays (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Peterson caved because BIG NANNY Pelosi has let it be known that ANY committee chairmen in HER House of Representatives
who do not vote with her on a "gut" issue, that is , a do-or-die this is what the Democrat Party under herself and Barack Obama stands for issue, is going to be removed from that chairmanship by her, the Speaker. And here would go Collin's extra thousands in salary for being a chairman, the power perks in extra air travel, limo service,name it. And the biggest losers in Peterson's district may be those who are his most slavishly devoted followers - the farmers, because they are in for some really nasty tax shocks for their use of fuels for tractors, machinery, grain dryers, trucking, fertilizers and other inputs which are petroleum based. They have had the biggest con-game run on them by Peterson, his boss Pelosi, and her boss BH Obama since Bernie Madoff hustled his trusting investors for whaat?, 150 billion? That $175 per household estimate was quickly dispelled by the CBO as best case scenario BEFORE
about one sixth of provisions are enacted under the bill. And the estimate is for an apartment dweller, alone in a 620
square foot apartment in a warm state like Alabama- no heavy requirement for winter heating. Factor in larger house, more people in the house, colder climate, and the costs can be $175 a MONTH more within three years, and that just for the house, to say nothing of added fuel costs for car, costs of fuel added to groceries, other goods. This is a
smash and grab hit by the take charge of everything central government in Washington, and CHAIRMAN Peterson caved, knuckled, kissed the hand, the feet of Pelosi, Obama, Reid.
So much for the slobs in Minnesota , eh Collin? What do we know about anything back here?
Posted by dutchsays (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And a postsript. True that Peterson and his blue-dog Democrats fought this thing for days. But the others held on and defended their constituents by voting against this outrage. There were what, 44 Dems who voted no? Only CHAIRMAN Peterson caved to save his chairmanship,his perks, and the devil with his constituents.
Posted by Timray18 (Tim Ray) on July 8, 2009 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hmmmm....the utility bill i receive( i only have to pay electric)almost monthly is below $20 here in San Diego.....hmmmmm.....looks like Minnesota is in for a rude awakening.....so is Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania and the yearly cost is not going to be the cost of a postage stamp on a daily basis.....remember LaughIn....sock it to me.....
Posted by Viking1 (anonymous) on July 8, 2009 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The only difference between the 3 Stooges and Obama, Reid, and Pelosi is that the 3 Stooges didn't steal from the taxpayers. Liberals are just plain gullible and I guess now they will be paying for it. You did vote in Al Franken you know--shame on you--now "live with it"!
Posted by 89Heritage (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There needs to be more punishment for these people. Voting them out does nothing. Yes they need to be out of office, but what do they care? they're set for life. They should have to do public service of some sort. Depending on how bad they threw us under the bus. Witch seems to be pretty common these days. Cleaning toilets at the local ball park or something. For a year to life depending. Maybe they would consider the people more in there decision making, Instead of there personal gains.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And to think, I voted for him! There is still some hope that the Senate won't pass this unbelievable nonsense.
Posted by mymoney (anonymous) on July 19, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Peterson must not have considered our conservative town, county, or district when voting this TAXATION into law. In my book that's called taxation without representation. This is a big mistake for him, and our community.
Posted by jhenry2307 (anonymous) on July 23, 2009 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
so if you have two or more clunkers at your house you cannot trade both of them for one car. The program is for one per
person.
Jhenry
Blogger
www.cashforclunkersfacts.info
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.info
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on July 24, 2009 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dave Adams, what local business is yours? anyone else feel free to inform the rest of us.
Bill H.R. 2454 or the Cap & Trade Bill
American Clean Energy And Security Act of 2009
To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy.
OpenCongress Summary:
This is the Waxman-Markley comprehensive energy bill, known for short as "ACES," that includes a cap-and-trade global warming reduction plan designed to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by 2020. Other provisions include new renewable requirements for utilities, studies and incentives regarding new carbon capture and sequestration technologies, energy efficiency incentives for homes and buildings, and grants for green jobs, among other things.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h24...
I think Collin Peterson did the right thing! its time we limit these toxic emissions, even if some business's are hurt in the short term.
selling crack and meth makes profits too, makes about as much sense to advocate that kind of business as other toxic poison producing industry.
if you make your living by poisoning the rest of us, I suggest you find more a honest and decent line of work.
good god people at least be on your own side!
Posted by palmbe (anonymous) on July 31, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No one is saying they want the dirty ditches or the sludgy rivers of the 1960's. We have cleaned that mess up. This bill is nothing more than a tax on breathing! CO2 is not an pollutant, it is essential for life. Ever heard of photosynthesis.
The bill will tax and oppress every US citizen. The CBO numbers greatly underestimate the cost to the American family. When this bill's requirements come to fruition in 2035 it is estimated that it will cost the average family of 4, $4600.00 annually. That is just in energy costs. That doesn't even account for all the other goods and services that will increase in price.
Collin Peterson knows full well he sold his constituents down the river with his yes vote on this regressive tax bill, that is why he doesn't want to face his constituents, plain and simple. 9/11 truthers my eye! Funny that other dem congressmen have jumped on this same bandwagon of not having town hall meetings. They are afraid that their constituents will show their displeasure with the Cap & Trade bill as well as with this Death Star Bill.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/070...
The democrats will of course defend their boy Collin, but the conservatives, independents, and republicans who have voted for Peterson in the past had better wake up. He has sold us all down the river to serve himself, not us!
Retire Collin, you no longer represent the majority of people here in the 7th Congessional district in MN.
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