Living | Environmental alarms raised over consumer electronics | Seattle Times Newspaper

PARIS —Charge your iPod, kill a polar bear?

The choice might not be quite that stark, but an energy watchdog is alarmed about the threat to the environment from the soaring electricity needs of gadgets like MP3 players, mobile phones and flat screen TVs.

Joe Barton: Quick, Pass Cap-and-Trade!

Please take a moment to read the attached summary from Rasmussen Reports of their recent poll on public knowledge of cap-and-trade. Rasmussen’s findings indicate the public is largely unaware of what a cap-and-trade law seeks to accomplish, or how. Likewise, similar recent polling by the same organization reveals waning public belief in mankind’s unequivocal contribution to global warming.

These surveys leave little doubt that global warming legislation must pass the Energy and Commerce Committee by Memorial Day. If the legislation is to win approval as-is, time is of the essence.

We are at a critical moment in the history of this New Direction Democratic Congress. With just the barest smidgen of obfuscation, our majority colleagues can rise proudly to the challenge of global warming by moving out smartly, before a suspicious public takes notice and well ahead of any consultation with voters that might be required next year.

The majority’s motto: Pass it now! Explain it later!

U.S. Rep. King: "Cap and tax" proposal will punish western Iowa

Liberals are pushing a bill that will raise taxes on all American energy users, cost American workers their jobs and put American companies at an international disadvantage. Instead of tax hikes, we need an all-you-can-create energy plan that includes more drilling, more renewable fuels and more efficiency. The energy sources of the future will not be created through massive tax hikes or new government regulations.

I will oppose any “cap and trade” bill that caps growth and trades American jobs.