Research

Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, explains today in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee how the Democrats’ “cap-and-trade” scheme will mean higher costs and a reduced international competitiveness for American farmers:

Increased input costs will put our farmers and ranchers at a competitive disadvantage with producers in other countries that do not have similar Greenhouse Gas (GHG) restrictions.

Increased production costs and lost competitiveness will result in reduced food production and higher food costs domestically and abroad.

Cost increases incurred by utilities and other providers resulting from climate change/energy legislation will ultimately be borne by consumers, including farmers and ranchers. Electricity costs are expected to be one-third higher than would otherwise be the case by 2040.

The impacts of the legislation go far beyond just the farm and ranch community. Families will be hit hard with higher energy costs under any cap-and-trade program, an amount that could total up to $200 billion a year for American taxpayers. That will put enormous strain on family budgets.

Just another reason, as Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) has said, that “cap-and-trade is a tax, and it’s a great big one.”