Top Energy Dem Pushes National Energy Tax, Yet Doesn’t Know What's In Bill
Criticizes Those Who Don’t Support Dems’ Climate Bill After Admitting He Hasn’t Read It
“I am very proud of the work this Committee has done in developing this legislation. Energy legislation is by its nature contentious. It can inflame regional differences. But over the last several weeks, we have been able to bridge these differences and build a remarkable coalition behind the legislation.” (Opening Statement of Rep. Henry A. Waxman Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, May 18, 2009)
Credibility Crash: Democrat Energy Chairman Waxman’s Damaging Admission
Senior Republican Joe Barton (R-TX): “Before I asked the question of Counsel did you know that was in this bill?”
Chairman Waxman (D-CA): “Are you asking me?”
Rep. Barton: “Yes, sir.”
Chairman Waxman: “Well, I certainly don’t claim to know everything that’s in this bill. I know that we relied very heavily on the scientists of the IPCC [the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] and others and the consensus that they have that there is a problem of global warming, it’s having an impact, and we need to try to reduce it by the amounts that they think we need to achieve in order to avoid some of the consequences. That’s what I know, but I don’t know the details, I rely on the scientists.”
See the exchange here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRcq0Lxffwc&feature=channel_page