Luetkemeyer Weekly Column Based On Misguided Forsee Letter

I'm don't have anything particularly insightful or clever to say about this column -- it's just embarrassing.

There have been some very disturbing and yet enlightening developments about the real science surrounding theories of man-made global warming. In recent days, we also have seen our state’s major university system provide a detailed accounting of how harmful and expensive cap-and-trade legislation will be to higher education in Missouri.

As many of you know, I introduced legislation that simply says that U.S. taxpayers should not have to pay $12.5 million per year for the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to keep producing corrupt findings that are being used as justification to impose a massive new tax on every American. The administration’s cap-and-tax legislation, which I voted against, is based on the kind of dubious science being peddled by this United Nations panel. Since the House passed this bill over my strong objections, it is my hope that the Senate ultimately rejects the national energy tax forced through by Nancy Pelosi.

The issue of this science was exposed when hacked emails released from a university in England showed that leading global scientists misleadingly manipulated data and suppressed legitimate arguments in peer-reviewed journals. There are also no denials around the researchers’ repeated efforts to avoid transparency and these researchers were actually asked to delete and destroy emails.

You made it clear that this is certainly not the time to be imposing new energy taxes on everything from gasoline to electricity. Under the administration’s plan, Missouri families could end up paying $1,700 in additional taxes tied to the cap-and-trade bill. Small businesses also will see costs rise and just last week the University of Missouri System warned that their costs will rise dramatically as a result of the cap-and-trade legislation. And of course those costs ultimately will be passed along to students and parents.

In light of these developments, I will continue to oppose this legislation, and as a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have asked for an investigation into the email case. I also will continue to support the University of Missouri System’s own opposition to the disastrous cap-and-trade legislation and will work with my colleagues to ensure that your hard-earned tax dollars aren’t being sent to the UN to fund political agendas that drive corrupt data that is used to justify raising your taxes!