The Fight Against Cap & Tax Goes to the Senate

Once it was announced that the House would schedule a vote on the Waxman-Markey (Cap'n Tax) bill for Friday, we knew that the progressives thought they had the votes.

Congressional sources say that phone calls to individual representatives ran 10 to 1 against the legislation, officially known as the American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009.

Unfortunately what the people think doesn't seem to count for much. It passed, 219 to 212.

I am pleased to report that 44 Democrats voted against the measure, including Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma's Second District. (We will be watching you on health care, Mr. Boren). No doubt a few of them waited until the could see the outcome before registering their vote, so as not to incur the wrath of the Pelosi.

I am displeased that eight Republicans voted for the measure, including the usually reliable Mary Bono of California. How many of these votes were the result of sincere belief in the cause of fighting global warming and how many were merely fear of liberal voters in their districts, it is unclear.

It would be easy to point the finger of blame at the eight GOP members, any four of whom could have reversed this outcome, but that would be letting the Democrat majority off the hook. Two hundred eleven (211) Democrats voted to tax our citizens and our industries by a trillion dollars, and to initiate new regulations that, if the Senate concurs, will change our lives as Americans, and all for an elusive 1/10th of a degree Celcius in 100 years.

Even if the Senate says no, and that is where the fight goes next, all 219 deserve the full oppobrium of the American people in the 2010 elections. There is no excuse for their combined arrogance and stupidity.

This political battle is not over. Not by a long shot.