Curmudgeon's Corner

Cap & Tax & Tax & Tax

Posted by Al Campbell on July 2, 2009

Economy, Quality of Life, Taxes, U.S.

The cap and tax plan has passed the House of Representatives and will now find its way to the U.S. Senate.  That will be the last place in which it can be either defeated or modified.  It ought to be defeated, but it must be significantly modified if not defeated outright.

Our energy costs will skyrocket, but that isn't even the worst of it.  Jobs will disappear but that isn't all that will happen.  Do you now own a home or a rental property?  Do you think you'll ever want to sell that house or property?  Then you need to get in touch with the two senators from Wisconsin at the numbers you'll find below, and here is why.

The current cap & tax bill that emerged from the House of Representatives contains, among other very onerous requirements, a requirement that any home or building that is to be sold must first be retro-fitted to contain whatever technology might be available at that future point in time.  It must then pass a federal or state inspection and, if it still doesn't meet that standard, you'll need to further retro-fit and be re-examined until it does meet the government's standards.

What do you think you'd have to pay to replace every window and door in your home or building?  What if it needs to be re-sided with a new "green" material?  What do you think it might cost to replace the heating and/or cooling units so that those meet whatever the standard is at the time you wish to sell?  What if there is then a standard for reflective roofing materials?  Does that sound costly?  What if there is then a maximum amount of CO2 emission permitted for your home or building?  What if the lighting system in your home or building had to be torn out and replaced?  And, how much will you spend to upgrade the built-in appliances and hot water system and humidification systems?  If that bill passes as it is now written, these are the kinds of things that very probably will be required before you are permitted to sell your home or rental property.

This bill ought to be defeated by the senate and then, if it still is thought to be necessary, be re-filed and debated in public unlike the current bill and amendment that most everyone who voted yes hasn't even read yet.

You have the opportunity to tell your Senators just how you feel about this; they're the only people who can kill this ugly bill since the Democrats in the house have already rolled over on top of us to please the Speaker of the House and the contributors who stand to gain, when they ought to have worried about pleasing you and me.  Our president will sign this legislation in an instant no matter the implications to us citizens.  His concern seems more that of the world than for his fellow Americans.

Sen. Herb Kohl can be reached in Washington at 202-224-5653 and in Milwaukee at 414-297-4451.

Sen. Russ Feingold can be reached in Washington at 202-224-5323 and in Milwaukee at 414-276-7282.

You will be connected with a staff person.  Simply tell them you want the senator to vote against cap & tax, and tell them you can't afford what it will do to you and your family and your employer.  And, tell them you'll be keeping track of how the senator votes as will your neighbors and your friends.

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The Curmudgeon Blog today is titled "Are We Like Frogs In A Pot Of Water?"