Cap-N-TradeTax Wrap-Up

Here are some interesting bits of wrap-up that I thought were interesting.

Nature itself was apparently unhappy about the passage of this bill:

A few minutes ago, just after the House narrowly approved a massive new federal energy tax, there was a nasty hail storm over Washington, D.C.

Could it be a sign from above that the cap and trade bill that just barely passed the House (219 to 212) is a terrible idea?

Here are the eight Reps who betrayed their party and the American people, and who voted for this monstrosity:

Mary Bono-Mack (California), Mike Castle (Delaware), Mark Kirk (Illinois), Leonard Lance (New Jersey), Frank LoBiondo (New Jersey), John McHugh (New York), Dave Reichert (Washington), and Chris Smith (New Jersey).

Republican Minority Leader John Boehner:

“Today, in what will be remembered as the defining vote of the 111th Congress, House Democrats passed a 1,500-page national energy tax bill that no one even had the chance to read. The American people have the right to know what is in this legislation and, more importantly, what impact it will have on middle-class families and small businesses. In just an hour, we raised serious questions about the true consequences of this legislation for Americans’ jobs and all of our economy.

“Speaker Pelosi’s national energy tax is a bureaucratic nightmare that will cost families more than ever for electricity, gasoline, food, and other products, and cost millions of American workers their jobs. This is a tax on anyone who drives a car, buys an American-made product, or flips on a light switch. It will drive up energy costs, send millions of jobs overseas to countries like China and India, and place an especially heavy burden on rural America. Republicans believe there is a better way. Our American Energy Act is the fastest route to a cleaner, more reliable energy future. By increasing environmentally-safe energy production, promoting alternatives like nuclear and clean-coal technologies, and encouraging increased efficiency, this alternative legislation will create more jobs, lower energy costs, and clean up our air and water.

“There’s a big difference between the heartland and San Francisco when it comes to Speaker Pelosi’s national energy tax. Today, House Democrats made the decision to stand with left-wing special interests rather than with families and small businesses in their districts that will lose so much because of this national energy tax. The American people will not forget this vote.”

Damn straight.

Finally, from a GOP staffer:

"Tonight, 50 Democrats lost their jobs and this bill is dead in the Senate."

We can only hope. Oh, and those eight Reps...they'll be going home, too.

Bet on it.

I wonder how many Senators are going to volunteer for retirement, too? We'll find out soon...

There's my two cents.


***UPDATE***
Via Michelle Malkin:

The two Republicans who didn’t vote: Jeff Flake (AZ) and John Sullivan (OK).

Here’s why: Flake had a family conflict and Sullivan is undergoing alcohol treatment. As I noted earlier today, Dem. Rep. Patrick Kennedy was pulled out of rehab to cast his vote.