Obama’s Energy Plan, New York’s Obesity Tax and the End of Global Warming Alarmism
Barack Obama’s choice for Secretary of Energy plans to focus on expanding sources of “clean” renewable energy.
New York Gov. David Paterson proposes raising taxes on sugar-sweetened soda to help combat childhood obesity.
The London Telegraph proclaims 2008 as the year global warming alarmism was disproved.
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1. ENERGY
Barack Obama’s choice for Secretary of Energy plans to focus on expanding sources of “clean” renewable energy.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Energy Policy Analyst William Yeatman on the downside of more spending on renewable energy:
“America’s real history of investing in non-nuclear clean energy is a story of waste and harm on a massive scale. Government has demonstrated time and again that it’s a sucker for a good pitch and therefore awful at picking winners in future energy technologies. The consequences are far greater than just more taxpayer funds flushed down the drain, though in this time of rotten economic circumstances, let’s take a moment to remember that we’re talking about real money.”
2. HEALTH
New York Gov. David Paterson proposes raising taxes on sugar-sweetened soda to help combat childhood obesity.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Analyst Steven Milloy on how Paterson’s numbers don’t seem to add up:
“The proposal then estimates that the tax will raise $404 million during 2009-2010 and — get this — $539 million during 2010-2011. Since tax revenues from non-diet soft drink sales are budgeted to increase rather than decrease — as one might expect from the alleged purpose of the tax — Paterson actually seems to be counting on the tax not working. Combating obesity is not grounds for the tax; it is, instead, camouflage for it — and not very good camouflage at that.”
3. ENVIRONMENT
The London Telegraph proclaims 2008 as the year global warming alarmism was disproved.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Global Warming Policy Myron Ebell on what we can actually expect from future climate change:
“Al Gore warns that global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions could increase sea levels by 20 feet, spin up deadly hurricanes. It could even plunge Europe into an ice age. Science does not support these and other scary predictions, which Gore and his allies repeatedly tout as a “scientific consensus.” Global warming is real and carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to it, but it is not a crisis. Global warming in the 21 st century is likely to be modest, and the net impacts may well be beneficial in some places. Even in the worst case, humanity will be much better off in 2100 than it is today.”
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