This year is quickly coming to a close and the major battle has been the health reform issue…it is debatable that it will be solved before the end of the year….but for the sake of argument and this post….we will say that it is…..

But what will be the burning issues in the coming year?  In my opinion, it will be one of two, possibly both, immigration and energy…..most likely the biggest and loudest will be the energy issue…..and within the debate on energy the NEW evil will be the “cap and trade”……but what the Hell is “cap and trade”?

Good question, because there is probably NO one outside of the Washington debate that really knows what it isa….other than some BS about taxes and a rise in the power bills…..

Just thought I would give my readers a little heads up before they are bombarded with the crap being slung by both sides of the political spectrum….good luck…

The biggest sticking point on any energy bill will be “cap and trade”….thius from the EPA website:

The cap and automatic penalties for noncompliance ensure that the environmental goal is achieved and maintained.

• The cap provides market value and certainty.
• Trading and banking allow companies to choose compliance options.
• Trading and banking minimize costs through compliance flexibility.

The cap ensures that the reductions are achieved and maintained over time even as new power plants are built. The trading program gives power plants the flexibility to choose how they meet their target emission reductions, which minimizes compliance costs and lowers consumer electricity prices.

• EPA distributes allowances equal to the cap amount. (For example, in the Acid Rain Program each allowance authorizes one ton of emissions).
• Sources have flexibility to choose how to meet their limits – by reducing their own emissions or purchasing allowances from other sources.
• Sources measure and report emissions, and must have sufficient allowances to cover their emissions; significant automatic penalties apply for noncompliance.

• Near-perfect compliance – Compliance with the Acid Rain Program has been an unprecedented success (over 99%).
• Early reductions – Reductions in the early years of the program averaged 25% below allowable levels, resulting in early benefits to human health and the environment.
• Air quality improvement – Emission cuts resulted in air quality improvements over a broad area of the U.S. and significant reductions in acid rain.
• Cost savings – The Acid Rain Program cost 75% less than originally projected.
• Innovation – A monetary value for lower emissions creates the right incentives.
• Integrity – High accountability and transparency provide credibility.
• Support – The Acid Rain Program enjoys a high level of acceptance by environmental organizations and industry, and bipartisan Congressional support.

There you go sports fans….that is the official EPA stand on how cap and trade will work….now the Repubs will have a different point of view….

‘Cap-and-trade’ is code for increasing taxes, killing American jobs, and raising energy costs for consumers.  Middle-class families are struggling during this recession, and the last thing they need is even higher costs of living and weaker job security, which is exactly what ‘cap-and-trade’ would deliver.

The so-called “cap and trade” proposal amounts to a carbon tax, plain and simple.  The plan would cap emissions, such as carbon dioxide, and force companies to purchase “credits” from companies who use less energy to meet the governments’ emissions requirements.  House Republicans agree that we should work together to make real progress in promoting clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment, but “cap and trade” is not the answer.

What will it be tax or no tax?  Next year this debate should turn into yet another political circus of misinformation, lies and games…my question is what will be the vehicle for the silliness?