Plans Set for Rally Against Cap and Trade
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Updated: 4:14 PM Jul 7, 2009
Plans Set for Rally Against Cap and Trade
West Virginians Against Cap and Trade held a rally on Tuesday to educate the public about a town hall meeting set for later this month.
Posted: 3:27 PM Jul 7, 2009
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- "Cap and Trade" hasn't received much support in West Virginia and a non-partisan group wants to keep it that way.

The climate change legislation intends to limit the amount of carbon released into the air by capping it and charging companies who burn past the limit.

All three West Virginia representatives, Shelley Moore Capito, Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall, spoke out and voted against the bill that ultimately passed the House by a narrow margin.

Now, as the Senate starts work on the bill, organizers from "West Virginians Against Cap and Trade" plan to hold a town hall meeting later this month.

The group is sponsoring the town hall meeting on July 18 at the Cultural Center in Charleston. Organizers say Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and former West Virginia University football coach Don Nehlen will also be there to speak out about the issue.

"We're trying to make the public aware of the issues with the bill," said Fred Joseph with West Virginians Against Cap and Trade.

United States Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) has indicated he will vote against the legislation, because he believes it will threaten jobs in the coal industry.

Organizers also want to send a strong message to United States Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) to vote against the bill when it reaches the Senate. Rockefeller has been more measured in his public comments.

"There is no reason on the planet why he should support it knowing what it could do to West Virginia," Joseph said.

Organizers believe cap and trade would mean a giant energy tax for West Virginians causing power bills to go up.

A spokesperson with Senator Jay Rockefeller's Office issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

    "Senator Rockefeller followed the process in the House on the climate change legislation very closely, and he continues to have serious concerns about the House bill. The Senate process is in the beginning stages, and Senator Rockefeller will continue working with his colleagues to make sure West Virginia’s interests are represented."

West Virginians Against Cap and Trade is a nonpartisan group of concerned citizens who most recently were involved in organizing the Tea Party Rally here in Charleston. The West Virginia Conservative Foundation is also helping sponsor the event.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Danny on Jul 13, 2009 at 06:04 PM

"Senator Rockefeller will continue working with his colleagues to make sure West Virginia’s interests are represented." He is going to vote for it,if you can read between the above lines. He will get some pork for the state to justify his ingnoring the will of the people who sent him there.
Posted by: Crystal Newman on Jul 8, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Glad to see most of the commenters here "get it"! Keep it up! Hope to see you on Charleston on the 18th! As for the one's who don't? Good luck with your "vouchers". Even if you do get one.. enjoy it off MY DIME!
Posted by: TwoDollarGas on Jul 8, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Germany fought WWII with gasoline from coal. America has 1/4th of the deposits on the planet and could eliminate dependence on foreign oil. Reducing trade imbalance would keep money, technology and jobs here in US. It is estimated that every billion in trade deficit equals 13,000 jobs lost. Plus we could quit sending billions to countries that sponsor terrorism. But the EPA recently determined CO2 is a pollutant. Isn’t it interesting that Cap and Trade insures the status quo for OPEC.
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