By Rachel Lippmann
St. Louis – The Republican Senator from Missouri says he's found a worse idea from California and Massachusetts Democrats than energy legislation passed by the US House.
A climate change bill from California senator Barbara Boxer and Massachusetts senator John Kerry builds off the "cap-and-trade" idea in legislation that's already passed the US House. It's sponsored by California Democrat Henry Waxman and Massachusetts Democrat Edward Markey.
In an appearance at Lambert Airport, Bond continued his opposition to the cap-and-trade idea, where permits to pollute would be exchanged in a market, calling it a hidden tax increase. He was especially critical of the tighter emissions standards in the Senate version. "That would absolutely obliterate the Midwest, and Missouri, where 80 percent of our power depends upon coal," Bond said.
Missouri's other Senator, Democrat Claire McCaskill, has also expressed concern about the potential economic impact on Missouri.
Bond also offered his take on Chicago's failure to secure the 2016 Summer Olympics.
"I really wanted Chicago to get the Olympics. It's a consolation prize because they can't get the World Series," he said, adding that President Obama's trip to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago wasn't a total failure because it gave Obama time to meet with the top US commander in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal. It's only the second time that's happened since McChrystal was appointed in May, Bond said.
Obama is holding off granting McChrystal's request for more troops until a complete review of Afghanistan strategy is completed. Obama needs to act now, Bond said, blaming sagging support for the war on the president.
"People are not enthused when they see no leadership, they see nobody speaking out, they see the president pushing an unpopular health care plan and not paying any attention to the brave men and women who are on the ground and our allies in Afghanistan," he said.