Senators Domenici and Bingaman Work Together for Higher Energy Prices

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Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273

Washington, D.C., April 4, 2006—Today’s Senate conference on mandatory greenhouse gas emissions limits is the latest attempt by Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) to force the United States into a future of fewer choices and higher energy prices.  The witness list, stacked with alarmist environmental activist groups and opportunistic corporations, demonstrates that Domenici and Bingaman have decided to shut out critical voices and proceed with an expensive energy rationing scheme regardless of its damaging effects on the economy.

“Senators Domenici and Bingaman should be issuing white papers and convening experts to identify political barriers to the development of affordable energy for all Americans,” said Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis, Jr.  “Instead, they are pushing a Kyoto-lite agenda that would force consumers to pay more for gasoline, home heating oil, electricity, and natural gas.  For shame!”

An emissions trading program of the kind envisioned by Domenici and Bingaman would attempt to enact incrementally the restrictions of the Kyoto Protocol global warming treaty, which was previously rejected in the Senate by a vote of 95-0.  This “Kyoto-by-Inches” strategy would amount to an undeclared tax on energy, raising the costs of energy and energy-intensive products for consumers in order to secure profits for a handful of well-positioned corporations.

“Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman have decided to ask special interests what would be best for those special interests.  It looks a lot like a gang of pirates gathering ’round to divvy up the booty.  The only thing missing from the group is Enron,” said Myron Ebell, CEI's Director of Energy and Global Warming Policy.    

A joint letter signed by a number of organizations opposed to the efforts of Senators Domenici and Bingaman to pass energy-rationing legislation available is here.