Video: Boehner slaps down Waxman, filibusters cap and trade; Update: Bill passes, 219-212; eight GOPers are the difference; Update: GOP defectors named; Update: One defector considering Senate run

Saltysman:

I just saw this about McCain and this bill:

“The budget the president recently put forward undermines our ability to work in a bipartisan fashion on this issue,” said McCain. “The president and his administration have risked our country’s economic future with a tax, borrow, and spend policy of historic proportions.”

“What the Obama administration has proposed is not cap-and-trade,” he continued. “It’s cap-and-tax.”

McCain’s main concern is that Obama calls for all of the emission credits in his cap-and-trade plan to be auctioned off to polluters, rather than dispersed free of cost. The Obama plan would bring in tens of billions a year in revenues from auctioning credits, the majority of which would be returned to citizens through tax rebates. It would also dedicate $15 billion per year to energy investments.

“The president’s proposal of auctioning 100 percent of the carbon credits is bad economic policy that would cost businesses billions of dollars and allow for little or no transition into a low-carbon system,” said McCain. “Let me be clear. I am a supporter of a strong cap-and-trade system, but I will not and cannot align myself with a giant government slush fund that will further burden our businesses and consumers.” McCain said he favored “a limited number of credits” being auctioned off to help fund a cap-and-trade program, but he argued that the vast majority should be distributed to emitters free of charge.

“At this time of economic hardship, it is beyond irresponsible to further raise costs of the operation of this country’s businesses,” he continued. “I still believe that it is the time to address this critical international issue, but my vision for a cap-and-trade system is as a mechanism to lower greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, not as a revenue generator for the federal government.”

McCain contended that the Obama administration is trying to create a “slush fund to pay for health-care reform or other social programs that fit with this administration’s agenda”—despite the fact that Obama’s plan clearly spells out that the money should be spent on consumer rebates and energy technology. (Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said last month that he was open to the possibility of using auction revenues to fund health care, but later backed away from the idea.)

McCain also wants support for the nuclear-power industry in a climate bill. “You have no complete answer without nuclear power,” he said. And he criticized the Obama administration for cutting funding for the proposed nuclear-waste storage facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev., saying the admin “refuses to deal with the issue of nuclear-waste storage.”

McCain will be a key figure in negotiations over a climate bill. In the Senate, it will take 60 votes to pass such a bill, and Democrats hold only 58 seats (well, 59 if you count Al Franken). So even if Democratic leaders get all of their own party members on board (and that’s a long shot), they’ll need to woo at least one Republican over to their side. Since McCain introduced cap-and-trade bills with Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) in 2003, 2005, and 2007, there had been speculation that he might be willing to work with Democrats on this issue. That looks less likely now.

McCain is not perfect, but he is preferable to Obama.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 10:31 PM

Saltysman:

But you miss the larger picture, McCain is not supporting this bill. Now I might prefer Inhofe’s approach, but right now McCain’s would be a lot less scary than this monster we are looking at.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Saltysman:

Slow death? No, I am looking at staving off the end. I am looking at getting the best deal you can get in the world you live in.

My point about McCain was not that he was perfect or that I agreed with him on everything, but that he was better than Obama. And he is. Now if you are going to say that if you can not get just exactly what you want, then you don’t want anything at all. Okay. But I don’t feel that way.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 10:47 PM

right4life:

I will never get to the point where I will take the collapse of this country. Never.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM

Saltysman:

Who said I wanted to resurrect failed strategies? I said McCain would have been preferable to Obama. I also said that conservatives need to do a better job of getting their ideas out there to people so that they can win elections. I fail to see what is argumentative in either one of those things.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 10:54 PM

right4life:

Oh for heavens sake. I am sorry, but after reading about the Great Depression I just do not think that all is lost now. The United States is tougher and stronger than you think. The American people are not a lost cause. If you think they are, then emigrate.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 10:55 PM

right4life:

Well don’t let the door hit you on the way out honey.

People of the Great Depression were the ones who voted for FDR and the New Deal and all that jazz.

They were also the ones who were starving.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Saltysman:

No, what you hear is McCain is better than Obama. This one step left or right is not the point. If Mitt Romney had gotten the nomination, he would have been better than Obama too. The same is true for Fred Thompson and a few other people. Too bad more conservatives could not get behind someone early on and back them rather than just complaining 24/7 about the outcome.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 11:08 PM

right4life:

A lot of things caused the Great Depression, but it was not just government and it was not just here in the United States. However, those people did vote for FDR and what is more they voted for him again in spite of the fact that unemployment was about 20% when he ran for reelection.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 11:09 PM

And what is this with people like me we won’t have freedom much longer? right4life you are an obnoxious offensive little person.

What did I do or say that will cost us our freedom? My refusal to kiss your behind?

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 11:11 PM

right4life:

I did not kiss anybody’s ass. And if you were looking at me face to face instead of running your mouth on the internet I doubt you would even have the guts to say that.

All I did was vote for McCain {I think you said you did the same} and I made the comment that he would have been preferable to Obama.

That is not kissing anyone’s ass, that is just a statement of fact.

Terrye on June 26, 2009 at 11:15 PM