Should Congress oppose the implementation of a carbon tax?
House Congressional Resolution 86 would provide a message of formal disapproval against the concept of carbon taxes, or an additional tax on companies based on their fossil fuel emissions. Proponents of carbon taxes argue that such reforms would encourage companies to reduce emissions and invest in renewable energy alternatives, while opponents fear the detrimental impacts of additional taxes weighing down the economy. Since this is solely a resolution expressing disapproval, it would not be legally binding. Sponsor: Rep. Ryan Zinke (Republican, Montana, District 1)
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How do you feel?
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Opponents say
• "We do not have the luxury of time when it comes to getting to carbon neutral. We need to give big corporations a real, unequivocal incentive to shrink their carbon footprint. We need to put a fee on carbon. With this legislation, not only do we require fossil fuel companies to phase out dirty fossil fuels. We also put money directly into communities that can then use that money to invest in our local economies, create jobs – especially jobs in clean energy sectors, which will be in higher demand. And in the end, we save lives from lowering our emissions curve, cleaning up our air, and keeping us on track to carbon neutrality by 2050." Source: Rep. Salud Carbajal (Democrat, California, District 24)
• "A price on carbon offers the most cost-effective lever to reduce carbon emissions at the scale and speed that is necessary. By correcting a well-known market failure, a carbon price sends a powerful signal, steering economic actors towards a low-carbon future. This encourages technological innovation, large-scale infrastructure development, as well as the diffusion of carbon-efficient goods and services.
Action should be taken to ensure that the price on carbon gradually increases until the goals of the Paris Agreement are met. A sufficiently robust price on carbon reduces the need for less efficient policies and provides the regulatory certainty companies need for long-term investment in clean-energy alternatives. A carbon price can be set through a tax or an emissions trading system." Source: U.S. Economists
Proponents say
• "Nobody does energy cleaner, better, safer and cheaper than we do it here in the United States… A carbon tax is harder on everyone from the energy producer to farmers to the American consumer already digging to the bottom of their pockets trying to afford Biden’s inflation. American energy producers are constantly innovating and making production both more efficient and with fewer emissions. There’s no reason we should be bowing to eco-green zealots and paying invoices to communists, terrorists and shady businessmen overseas when we have proof that we can do it better here at home." Source: Rep. Ryan Zinke (Republican, Montana, District 1)
• "On his first day in office, President Biden launched his all-out assault on domestic energy production, and his administration has consistently used executive fiat and onerous red tape to stifle efforts to achieve energy independence. Implementing a carbon tax would be another blow to American energy dominance and national security. Our resolution will instead promote pro-growth solutions, and ensure jobs and businesses stay here instead of being shipped overseas to places like China or other adversaries." Source: Sen. Bill Cassidy (Republican, Louisiana)
- Zinke Introduces Resolution Condemning Biden’s Carbon Tax Plan (Press Release)
- U.S. Investigation Finds that Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Misused Position (NPR)
- How Is the US Pricing Carbon? How Could We Price Carbon? (Resources for the Future)
- Global Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuels Reached Record High in 2023 (Stanford University)
- Carbon Taxes in Theory and Practice (Tax Foundation)
- Are We Ready for a Global Carbon Tax? (Yale University)
- Rep. Ryan Zinke’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
