Nesbitt's Resolution: One More Way to Bring Jobs to Michigan

Please urge Committee Chairman Ken Horn to move this resolution out of committee.

House Resolution No. 134.

A resolution to urge the Governor to expedite Michigan’s withdrawal from the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.

Whereas, Signatory states in the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord agree to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets and timeframes. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through government regulations generally requires placing limits on carbon dioxide, which is produced by most energy production and industrial processes. Carbon dioxide cap-and-trade policies are the favored approach for the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord; and Whereas, Forcing business, industry, manufacturers, energy producers, and food producers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the government mandates and cap-and-trade policies advocated by the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord will increase the cost of doing business; push companies, job-providers, and businesses to other states or overseas; and increase consumer costs for manufactured goods, electricity, fuel, and food; and Whereas, The Congressional Budget Office warns that the cost of cap-and-trade policies will be borne by consumers and will place a disproportionately high burden on poorer families; and

Whereas, Simply reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the state of Michigan or in the Midwest will not have a significant impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, especially while developing countries such as China, Russia, Brazil, and India emit an ever-increasing amount of carbon dioxide; and Whereas, A tremendous amount of economic growth and job creation would be sacrificed in a regulatory cap-and-trade scheme that would have no appreciable impact on global concentrations of carbon dioxide; and Whereas, No state or nation has enhanced economic growth or international competitiveness through a cap-and-trade scheme or any other government-mandated carbon dioxide reduction policies; and

Whereas, The European cap-and-trade system has been undermined by political favoritism, corporate giveaways, higher costs for consumers, and accounting tricks and has failed to achieve its carbon dioxide reduction targets; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Governor to expedite Michigan’s withdrawal from the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor of Michigan.