The Final Word by Helen Roush

Helen Roush, Executive Vice President of Paperitalo Publications

The Final Word by Helen Roush

Oregon's Republican state senators took a strong stand against Oregon's House Bill 2020 and rightfully so.

If passed, this bill would have had a very negative impact on the forest products mills located in Oregon.

Oregon's cap and trade bill would have meant job loss and industry downsizing; however, it would have done little to address climate change. According to Fox News, the bill is aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions by auctioning off pollution allowances for carbon.

According to The Heartland Institute, cap-and-trade programs do little to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Even worse, they are akin to regressive taxes. Cap-and-trade programs disproportionately burden low-income households, who are less able to afford higher energy and gasoline costs that these programs are designed to produce.

The Heartland Institute further stated that the economic impacts and job losses as a result of the proposed cap-and-trade program would likely be significant as production would be curtailed and shifted to lower costs states.

According to The Heartland Institute, cap-and-trade programs aren't needed; carbon dioxide emissions are already dropping in the United States, a development that is primarily due to the recent hydraulic fracturing revolution, which many cap-and-trade supporters continue to oppose, and the switch from coal-generated electricity to natural gas.

Helen Roush is Executive Vice President of Paperitalo Publications.