Esty’s Column Has Republicans Upset At Notion of Carbon Tax

by Christine Stuart | Apr 28, 2011 1:56pm Google
(4) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Environment

Department of Environmental Commission Daniel C. Esty was roasted by members of the Republican Party Thursday for a New York Times column he co-authored which promotes the same carbon tax he wrote about in his book published in 2006.

“While every other government in the country is trying to figure out how to make gas and energy cheaper, our governor’s energy and environmental czar is trying to make sure prices become truly unaffordable beginning in 2012,” House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero said in a statement. He called the proposal to impose a $5 surcharge on every ton of greenhouse gas emissions, which Esty called for the in the column, “insane.” It’s the same carbon charge Esty has been promoting for more than five years now.

Esty was asked about the carbon charge he proposed in the book at his confirmation hearing back in March.  But said it’s not something he’s proposing on a state level in Connecticut.

“The best way to drive energy innovation would be an emissions charge of $5 per ton of greenhouse gases beginning in 2012, rising to $100 per ton by 2032. The low initial charge, starting next year, would make the short-term burden on consumers and businesses almost negligible,” Esty and co-author Michael E. Porter, a Harvard Business School professor wrote in the Times column. It’s the same sentiment he shared at the ‘No Labels’ gathering last December in New York.

Click here for more background on Esty’s argument on the “harm charge,” or “carbon tax.”

Esty told the Executive and Nominations Committee during his hearing in March that the premise is rooted in private property law where if harm is done to property the person doing the harm is expected to pay for the damages. He said the same principles apply to the idea of a carbon tax.

In the column he argues the $5 per ton proposal is modest and considering the federal deficit “will look attractive compared with raising individual income taxes or burdening the economy with new corporate or payroll taxes.”

He argues the goal is not to raise revenue, but create a shift toward clean renewable sources of energy.

But all the Republicans seem to read was the word tax and they began to do the math.

Cafero estimated Connecticut emits 17 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, so under Esty’s proposal it would result in $85 million in new gas taxes.

“We don’t need another taxpayer financed state employee wasting our time trying to make federal policy, we need a government that should be working with business to comply with the laws, not threaten them,“ Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy said in his statement.

Healy suggested Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who nominated Esty, publicly rebuke his commissioner’s statements.

“Had we known Chris Healy was so keenly interested in environmental and energy policy, we would have taken a closer look at him for a position within the administration,“ Colleen Flanagan, Malloy’s spokeswoman said. “Certainly each and every one of Chris’ well-intentioned suggestions will be reviewed and taken into consideration.”

Tags: energy, Carbon charge, tax, Esty, No Labels, climate change

(4) Comments

posted by: ... | April 28, 2011  7:37pm

I guess since Malloy stole a lot of their cut and consolidation ideas for his budget bill, state Republican leaders need someone to attack and distract us from real issues (like the budget)?

Why should Malloy rebuke a roughly 5-year old book and deny someone their freedom of speech on a national issue after Esty clearly stated the issue of carbon taxes would need to be discussed and applied at a federal level.

posted by: Matt W. | April 29, 2011  1:38pm

Joness: I think that’s a bit dramatic. The GOP is not part of the budget process and certainly should have no interest in distracting anyone from it.  They have no liability there so the more attention that is paid to what a circus it’s become, the better for them.  With respect to Esty, he was hired to represent and drive Malloy’s environmental policy, so either Malloy agrees with this policy or Esty is talking out of class.  Either way, it’s perfectly appropriate to ask Malloy what his opinion of the policy is and if he is honestly against it, he should say so publicly. I don’t know that he has to “rebuke” anything but he should clarify his position on the policy for our benefit.

posted by: hawkeye | April 29, 2011  8:14pm

Daniel C. Esty is Gov. Malloys’ henchman - and is therefore pushing for more taxation of $85 million dollars—to satisfy our tax-hungry Governor!

posted by: ... | April 29, 2011  8:54pm

I was just a little bit, yea (hehe). But I also think it is equally playing theatrics whenever they say “we’re not part of the budget” or anything around those lines.

In their Common Sense for Connecticut proposal (put forward prior to Malloy’s budget address), they asked for several things that are now in the budget. Not only that, Malloy has fought on their side against some of the proposed taxes by the legislature. I honestly do believe they’ve had a voice and their ideas are in the budget. Not all of them of course because of differences in opinion.

But because their is nothing in the budget they can stake their claim on and tout to their constituents ‘this is what the GOP got out of this budget’, whether in press conferences or interviews, they are almost obligated to act polar to the entirety of the budget.

And you are right, he was hired to represent CT’s environmental policy, which is why during the questioning during his confirmation hears, he clearly drew a line between his national views (found in his book and in pieces he has written) and his goals for the state. This issue he discussed was meant for a national audience and national discussion.

Of course CT residents can talk about some of his national views and disagree with his opinion, but their implications he intends to seek similar policies in CT is an attempt to create a circus in of itself.