Senate hearings begin on cap and trade
Farm and Ranch October 29, 2009 Hearings began this week in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on cap and trade legislation sponsored by the committee’s chair Barbara Boxer of California and Massachusetts Senate John Kerry. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was overseas and Boxer read this statement from him. Boxer: “While farmers and ranchers and forest land owners have a lot at stake if we fail to act, they have a lot to gain if we address climate change quickly and wisely. And there are significant opportunities for landowners in a cap and trade program that can help revitalize rural America.” The Secretaries of Energy and Transportation and EPA’s Administrator defended the Administration’s strong push for legislation to fight global warming - arguing the benefits of action would outweigh the costs of doing nothing. But Republicans like Idaho’s Mike Crapo argued the bill would create huge new costs for agriculture that would not be offset by credits for reducing or storing carbon. And he like some other committee members wanted to know who would be in control. Crapo: “The legislation as it is structured as it is now structured puts the EPA in charge of the offset programs for farmers and foresters. Is that not correct? (Boxer) “That is not correct. In the bill it just says, right now, that the White House will be in charge of it.” Boxer called that a place holder in the bill for the Ag Committee - which could still decide to put USDA in charge of the program. Some six Senate panels will have a role in shaping the climate change bill. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network. ?
