The Status Of A Carbon Tax In The United States -- For Archival Purposes Only

The LA Times is reporting:

In case there was any doubt about the odds of Congress enacting a carbon tax, a Senate vote Saturday morning showed that they are long indeed.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a liberal Rhode Island Democrat, offered an amendment to the proposed fiscal 2014 budget resolution calling for "establishment of a fee on carbon pollution." The amendment didn't suggest who'd pay the fee or how large it would be; it required only that the fee not increase the deficit and that all the revenue raised be "returned to the American people in the form of federal deficit reduction, reduced federal tax rates, cost savings or other direct benefits."

The big tent notwithstanding, the Senate rejected the amendment handily, 58 to 41. All 45 of the chamber's Republicans voted against it, as did 13 Democrats from energy-producing or swing states.

The writer failed to understand the reason for the amendment and the vote. Harry Reid doesn't bring measures to the floor without a reason.

In this case, they all knew the measure would fail. They wanted to see by how much and who would vote against it.

If the vote was close, let's say one or two votes, it easily could have been attached to a larger bill that would pass regardless of a carbon tax amendment.

If the vote was 80-20 lopsided, then it becomes very problematic to attach it to any bill.

However, a 58-41 vote? Only 8 senators need to get something in the main bill to make it worthwhile to vote yes on that bill even if there is a carbon tax amendment, particularly if the carbon tax is revenue-neutral as they say, and/or if the money goes directly back to the 47% of the population that would never vote for Mitt Romney.

The question: how would Senator Heitkamp vote if the measure was attached to another bill. This article may provide a clue. This vote over the weekend was a symbolic vote and it was a win-win for Senator Heitkamp. She could endear herself to those who support the North Dakota oil boom knowing that the vote was for show only.

The old "I voted against it before I voted for it" explanation. We've seen that movie.

I can't find the Saturday Roll Call, but this link is a pretty accurate reflection.