Energy Plan Would Add $7.5 Billion in New Agencies and Bureaucrats

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Energy Plan Would Add $7.5 Billion in New Agencies and Bureaucrats

By Americans for Tax Reform | 08/13/09 | 09:41 PM EDT | 2 Comments

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Just when you thought there weren’t enough bureaucrats and red tape in Washington, DC, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that the Cap and Trade program would add at least $7.5 billion in new agencies and bureaucrats.

The CBO reports (Page 32):

"Several federal agencies, including EPA, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Department of State, DOE, and others would be responsible for administering programs under H.R. 2454. Major new initiatives—particularly the proposed GHG cap-and-trade program and related activities, the proposed energy-efficiency and renewable electricity standard, and rebates for low income individuals—would significantly expand agencies’ workloads. In addition, many other provisions of H.R. 2454 would require federal agencies to undertake a variety of rulemakings, conduct studies and assessments, prepare reports, and carry out other activities related to new programs authorized under the bill."

The CBO estimated the gross appropriations would total $540 million in 2010 and $8.2 billion over the 2010-2019 period. Some agencies such as FERC, however, would be able to offset some of the costs with fees, bringing the net outlay of funding to $390 million in 2010 and $7.5 billion over the 2010- 2019 period. The fees would still have to be paid by someone (read: you), so the real cost of these new bureaucracies is still $8.2 billion for taxpayers.

These are CBO projections; some have estimated the actual costs to be much higher.

If the Waxman-Markey Energy Tax passes, not only do you get to look forward to higher energy bills, fewer jobs, and a diminished standard of living, you also get to pay for more and more Washington bureaucrats to take your money and run your life.

2 Comments | Related Topics »National

Comments

Cap and Trade would amount to

Cap and Trade would amount to the largest tax increase in U.S. history. This, like the health care bill, should be rejected.

Submitted by Dan on Thu, 08/13/09 - 09:46 PM » |

Full Court Press

Time honored stategy when your team is behind. Foul them and see if they can make the free throws.

The oppo to Cap and Trade are very, very busy boys. First, I get a mailer today panning Cap and Trade from McClintock who has long been in the pocket of Big Oil. And this piece from McClintock and Big Oils buddy, Grover.

But that isn't the half of it. Big Oil decided that now that astroturfing is now in vogue, go for that too.

Greenpeace

702 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-462-1177 · Fax: 202-462-4507

Jack Gerard
President and CEO
American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005-4070

August 12, 2009

Dear Mr. Gerard,

Today we obtained a memo (attached below) from one of our supporters detailing your
organization’s plans for a “Energy Citizen” astroturf campaign in the two weeks before Labor Day and continuing into the fall.
Can you verify if this email is from your office and to whom it was addressed?

It would logically appear that the “Energy Citizen” campaign’s objective is to defeat climate change regulation.

(...)

COPY OF EMAIL FROM AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE TO ITS
MEMBERSHIP - OBTAINED BY GREENPEACE – AUGUST 2009

Dear API Member Company CEO/Executive,
As I have outlined in the past few editions of the weekly“Executive Update,” API is
coordinating a series of “EnergyCitizen” rallies
in about 20 states across the country
during the last two weeks of Congress’s August recess. Most of these will be held at
noontime, though some may be at
different times in order to piggyback on other events.

Thanks to the leadership of API’s Executive Committee, I am pleased to report that we have strong support for this first-ever effort
moving ahead. Now we are asking all API
members to get involved.

(...)

Source:
http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/GP%20API%20letter%20August%202009-1.pdf