Email with more information from Kay Granger on the Climate Bill that passed the House two Friday’s ago. Unbelievable.

Dear Friends,

I heard your concerns loud and clear about the “cap and trade” bill.  The overwhelming majority of you who shared your thoughts with me voiced your opposition and frustration, and I am proud to say I voted against this misguided bill.  Although this 1,400-page bill narrowly passed the House, we are still learning what’s in it because parts of the bill were hidden from Members of Congress until less than a day before the vote.

Many of you told me you are worried about the job losses and economic impact we can expect from this bill.  What you may not know is that the Democrats who wrote this legislation know it is going to cost American jobs, so they included incredible new benefits for workers who lose their jobs because of this bill.  These benefits include 156 weeks’ worth of payments that are equal to 70 percent of the worker’s average weekly wage; 80 percent of their monthly health care premium; up to $1,500 for job search assistance; up to $1,500 for moving expenses; and job counseling, training, and other assistance.  Rather than instituting an expensive new welfare program that will cost untold millions in tax dollars, wouldn’t it make more sense to stop those jobs from being lost in the first place?

Another poorly understood part of the bill gives the federal government control over building codes for “residential buildings.”  The bill doesn’t clearly define “residential,” so that could include your home, your apartment, or any other building that could be considered “residential.”  After the federal government takes over the building code, new “residential buildings” would have to be 30 percent more energy efficient within one year.  These targets and deadlines were established with no concern for cost and with no assessment of whether they are even possible to achieve.

What does this mean for you and me?  Well, it means we would have to live by a one-size-fits-all federal mandate that removes local control.  It also means that if you build a home, renovate your home, or buy a home, you will have to go to extraordinary and costly lengths to ensure the home is in compliance with the national building code, or face a possible fine.  The federal government will punish owners for failing to reach the federal building standards, even if their structure is in compliance with local building codes.

I support efforts to make our country more energy efficient, but I will continue to oppose any plan that costs jobs, increases your energy bill, and tells you how to build your house.  Click here to tell me what you think about this bill.

Sincerely,

Kay Granger