Steve Hoffacker's Sales Quips: Wake Up People, Stop Cap And Trade Or It Will Stop Us

There really shouldn't be a federal standard for regional issues, that doesn't make sense.  Also, requiring new construction to meet an energy code is one thing, assigning a score to existing construction is crazy.  If retrofitting is required it will hurt the consumer even more. 

We have a "Green" Community in our area and their prices are about 30% higher for comparable homes in the surrounding neighborhoods.  Sure they save on utility bills but their payments much higher. 

Good post.  Whenever individual state rights are attacked, we should be able to agree to just say no!

Yea..get the feds involved even more.  I can't understand why most say we need less government, and then throw a bunch more Government mandates at us.

Lisa,

As crazy as these things are, they are halfway into becoming reality. We need to speak up. :)

Steve

Michael,

Thank you and agreed. This is an immense power grab attempt by Washington. :)

Steve

William,

Does the term "Big Brother" sound familiar? The power play is quite obvious. :)

Steve

What everyone also needs to know is that there isn't one single Congressman who actually read this bill. It wasn't even available to read on Friday when they voted and there were at least an additional 300 pages added to it on Thursday night.

Kathy,

That "Thursday night" was actually 3:00 am Friday, and the bill wasn't available at the rostrum when they started debating it - as is required by House rules. :)

Steve

This must be stopped. I will do my part. Thanks for posting.

It seems when one party is dominant they flex their muscles and it is not always good for the rest of us. That can apply to either party and I usually think we get better laws when the house, senate and President are NOT all the same. This way we end up with lots of one-sided stuff that may be lacking in practical sense.

Sandy,

Thank you. Apparently the 8 Republicans who voted for the bill can still change their votes up until July 2. Let's pressure them. Of course the Dems who voted no can change, too, but let's focus on the the votes that can be changed - plus the Senate. :)

Steve

Steve,

I agree that a President and Congress from different parties help keep things in check. :)

Steve

Hi Steve

If this bill is passed the real estate and new home industry as we know it will no longer exist.

PS The Wall Street Journal is opposed to the bill.

Lou,

Thank you. Amazing that NAHB and NAR aren't out in front of this. :)

Steve

The funny part about Cap and Trade is- its nothing more than a regressive tax...affecting those who can afford it the least. Do politicians really believe businesses are going to absorb the costs???? Seriously... the additional costs get passed on to consumers. This isnt rocket science...or is it?

The real estate industry and the new home industry as we "knew" it, has already changed.  I'm not sure about the bill, I haven't read it so I have a difficult time being for or against it but I know one thing: all the rhetoric for or against by the uninformed does not make deciding for myself any easier.

Steve - the NAHB and NAR are only interested in collecting dues and expanding membership, just like the NRA.

Steve, If the federal government continues to stomp on state rights, we will see several states secede from our nation...

This is just crazy stuff.  It doesn't make sense, and it's certainly not what we need in the current economic and housing crisis.

Great post and great info Steve...congrat's on the gold star...you deserve it.

Unbelievable that the government just doesn't get it.

If this passes, they (the politicos) are't going to have jobs either . . . are they really that stupid to think we won't remember next time we vote?? 

You need to provide a link that has these "talking points" already prepared, so it's just a click to get it off to our state reps under our name.

Steve: improving our air, lowering our use of energy et....we all agree that there is to much waste, but this is ridiculous. Some changes are necessary but this is crazy. To much at the same time!

Steve- I have a post in draft about the cap and TAX bill that will do a lot more to hurt the real estate business, more than you can even imagine. But even more important, the poor will suffer terribly if this bill passes. It is going to really hurt the poor in coal heating communities.Their heating bills are going to triple!  SO SAD! Katerina

From a home inspector's standpoint, #2 and #3 sound pretty good. I could easily develop some new services to help with those.

Mike,

It's a tax that can be sold as passing along a financial responsibility for something that really isn't a issue. Put that aside, and look at what else was tossed in here. That's even more of an issue. :)

Steve

I had Congressman John Carter in my office today.  Read what he has to say about it:

John,

The bill is a punitive attempt to hamper forever our ability as a nation to compete effectively on the world stage while hamstringing those of us who would make this country great. :)

Steve

Paul,

This is precisely why we have a Constitution and Amendment 10 and other sfeguards were written into it. Now it's up to us to enforce it. Remember Lincoln's government of, by, and for the people? :)

Steve

Christine,

Strip away the logic. It does make sense if your goal is to raise taxes, seize more power, and make the citizenry total dependent on the government. :)

Steve

Karen,

Thank you. This is a defining moment for us as Americans. Congress and our President are trying the Hail Mary. We have to knock it down. :)

Steve

Like John, I haven't read it either.  My guess is the same Kathy's that none of the congressmen have read it, either those voting for or against it.  1300 pages, I am sure there are more than three items of interest and more about those three items than can be digested in 3 short sentences.  You are correct Steve, it could be as devastating on the housing industry as federal regulations have been on US automakers. 

Carla,

For each person the talking points may be a little different. Just speak from your heart. We don't need more taxes, we don't want our industry regulated, we don't want to give up States' rights, we don't want to be penalized in international commerce, we want all forms of energy to be considered, we don't want to be told what kind of car to drive or which ones can be made, we want to be energy independent, we want to remain a nation of choices ... :)

Steve

Lloyd,

If we can produce energy, we can use it. We can be great if we are allowed to be. This is a very egregious power play with potentially irreversible consequences and implications. :)

Steve

Katerina,

Thank you. Look forward to reading your post. America has the largest coal reserve of any nation. We have been described as the Saudi Arabia of coal. We are just doing to abandon this resource. We are just going to turn our backs on technology so that some people can flex their powerful muscles? I enjoyed the EPA release of their report today on global cooling. The entire premise for this bill is missing. :)

Steve

Russel,

On the surface perhaps, but who says you get these jobs without a lot of investment in technology and tools, certification, and training? There's plenty of work for you now without making inspections mandatory. Think of how many more people might want to enter your field also. :)

Steve

Steve,

Thank you. I am reblogging your post to go right along with this one. We must raise our voices. Tell John thank you. He is one of the good guys. :)

Steve

Mike,

It's a total travesty and embarrassment on our legislative process that they would - within the unheard of span of just 11 days - introduce a measure, craft over 1300 pages of language that no one did or could possibly have read through - including an 11th hour addition of over 300 of those pages, rush it through committee, and get it to a vote without soliciting input from the citizens, fully understanding what they are voting on, considering the far reaching effects of this bill (especially on the provisions just tossed into it to beef it up), and potentially damaging forever the fabric of the America economy. :)

Steve

This sounds crazy, I can see mandates for new construction charging electric cars, this will be needed and certainly over time will be an update that is very often undertaken until it is pretty much standard ( like internet hook up and so on.) 

The rest of it just makes no sense.  It will make it hard to sell older homes when the actual best things to do energy wise is to continue to use the older home and make updates as you can.  It will make it so that many of them sit empty as newer ones are built and that will in many ways hurt the economy, disrupt and hurt neighborhoods and in the end expend MORE energy that gradually changing things over.....

Anna,

I can see lenders refusing to lend if your energy score is below a certain number - making those homes entirly obsolete and worthless. If you think we have an issue with excess inventory now, just wait. And the costs to build all of the new homes with all of the new regulations and oversight? :)

Steve

Steve, providing provision for charging of electric cars for new construction is already part of the 2009 NEC----so having it in a whole separate bill seems redundant.

Steve, Thank you for this great information. I just re-blogged it!!

Keep up the good fight.

Watch this!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPPVDOpFCIA&feature=player_embedded

Big government is celebrating its golden age.  Good post.

I just came across your post as I am just starting to do my research.  I have not found any good reason to suport this bill.  As it was debated on Friday, I happend to hear a housemember run through a list of organizations who support the bill.  He said and repeated  "National Association of Realtors" my ears perked up in amazement and disaproval at the same time. Does anybody know where I can find out more about NAR's position?  I would like to get more informed, but once again have a bad feeling of diappointment & embarrasment of being part of NAR.

They have 5 Days from the time of their vote to change them, or we will work to vote them out of office.

 
1) Click on their link.
2) Select the 'Contact' tab.
Note:Contact their local office as they are not in DC at this time, they are home on vacation.

Mary Bono Mack R (CA)
Mike Castle R (DW)
Mark Steven Kirk R (IL)
Leonard Lance R (NJ)
Frank LoBiondo R (NJ)
John McHugh R (NY)
Dave Reichert R (WA)
Chris Smith R (NJ)


How they voted across the board. - Official government website showing how they voted.

Bart here is a start from someone who is in the know!

American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009. Thanks Henry.

Steve, this is good information.  To vote on a bill without reading in (either for or against) should be grounds to be removed from office!  You have 1 reason to be back there and that is to pass or reject legislation, to try to shove a bill through like that is ridiculous!  Even if it were a bill that I was 100% suportive of, I would still say to these Congressman and Women, your time is up, next!  The other part of it, why are we doing anything to raise the costs of necessary items in a deep recession?  HELLO!  Is anyone there?  These are not luxury items that are included in this bill!  Seriously it is time for strict term limits!  If two terms is enough for the President, then it should be enough for the House and Senate!  We also need to stop legislating this country by Hero Worship, everyone is capable of good or bad ideas, let the idea stand on it's merit, rather than who proposed it!

Bart- Yes, we need to find out NAR position on this. They have already embarrassed us so much with saying we had to bail out the banks then saying we need the stimulus bill, sounds like they are just politicians too and not for their members.

Steve...

The freedom loving capitalist in me hates it, the "green" environmentalist in me loves it. I think that energy conservation is a national priority, but I would prefer to see a passive system such as tax credits.

Steve,

It's interesting. When I watch politicians on TV talk about "Cap and Trade" I know they're lying. I just don't know which side is lying more.

Rich

# 3 alone is enuff !!! I can't imagion a FEDERAL inspection !!!!!!!!!

Great post Steve. I'm glad it is featured. I am very concerned about where our country is going. I feel like all of a sudden we live in the old USSR or Cuba. Who would have thought in the US we would have unelected Zars? Our liberty is slipping to tyranny. Everyone needs to stay involved and in touch with your Representatives and keep them informed how we the people feel.

Cap and trade is the largest tax increase in history. Washington DC has no right to mandate issues to the States.

Hi Steve:

Congrats on the feature!

This can't be good...

As much as I would love to see every home be more energy efficient, these new proposed regulations are over the top!

You know that it's a huge deal and they really don't want people to know what's in there when they try to pass it so quickly.  What is the rush?  And as long as China and India can do what they want this bill won't make a bit of difference to the environment.  It will just make us poorer and allow the government to control more of what we do.

It's just a way to get to control everything we do.  I am so sick and tired of this crap.  I don't need the government telling me what I can eat, what light bulbs I can read by, what toilets I can piss in, what car I can drive, how much I need to pay my employees, what doctors I can use.

It's time to get rid of it all and start all over.  I'm hoping that this might be the straw that broke the camel's back.

Thanks for the information -

When our government GOES bankrupt, what will happen??? Has anyone researched this?

If we owe China billions of dollars and cannot pay them will they foreclose on America - will they then own the White house and the federal land? The post office? The states?

Something tells me they won't make out the social security checks, disability checks and unemployment checks to people who would be expecting them?

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.  Time to call and email my senator.

I am hoping for a change this next election cycle. Especially if States rights continue to be challenged.

Only if you believe in the fear mongering by the Heritage Foundation.

Steve, so glad this got featured.

Honestly most Americans aren't going to have a clue what hit them until their taxes go sky high, or they get ready to sell, or any of the other crap in this 1333 page document.

Jobs will be lost, in Mi we are 80% dependant on coal.

Let me catch my breath!  Things are changing so fast in DC that I cannot see straight or keep up.....if I was a conspiracy theory advocate I would say this sounds orchestrated and intentional.  Thanks for the heads up and yes, we need to let our voices be heard.  Please tell me that it does not fall on def ears.

Call your Senators and tell them to vote NO!  Melt the switchboards.

I'm an environmentalist (studied environmental science and engineering in grad school), and my opinion is that cap and trade is one of the worst concepts out there.  It's a bad idea for some of the reasons given in this post but, more importantly, it's a bad idea because it won't help reduce global air pollution. 

Most of the politicians who vote (for or against) these bills don't even read them, and the consequences can be disastrous.

Charles,

I'm not aware of that but OK. As for the national building code, the required inspections, the increase in taxes, ... :)

Steve

Alice,

Thank you for doing your part in this fight and for keeping this message out in front. :)

Steve

Sam,

But they haven't won yet. We can still keep our country if we act now! Thanks. :)

Steve

Bart,

I'm not sure of NAR's position either, but support of this bill - even having your name associated with this bill - does nothing to help their members and severely hurts them! Thank you. :)

Steve

Does a letter to congress opposing this bill exist?  If so, can someone provide a link?

Alice,

Thanks for posting the names of the 8 scoundrels who have given up on America. Let's mount an all-out effort to show them that this was a very stupid vote on their part. :)

Steve

This is a crazy bill. Just like the porkulus bill. No review, just push it through. There is absolutely no sense in what is going on in Washington now. This is going to hurt everyone, and push this economy even deeper into a pit.

Alice,

Thanks for the link to Gene's post. I just reblogged it. :)

Steve

Michael,

It is time that the government get smaller, but it's up to us to do it - they won't. Here's a great chance. :)

Steve

Another Crap Bill that will do nothing to help us! Just like the $8000 tax credit for first time buyers - we see how this is doing nothing to help fix the housing problems!!!

TIME FOR OBAMA TO GO - CHANGE AGAIN!!!!!

Tony and Darcy,

Great comments. In the past, it has taken months, and sometimes years, to get a piece of legislation proposed, vetted, and acted upon. Now we can do it it in a week or two. This is not Congress. This is just voting as instructed. We need a cooling off period - and an insistance that people attest, under oath, that they have read the entire document they are voting on. :)

Steve

"The sky is falling, the sky is falling" would be a fitting subtitle for your post...Come on Steve, we as a nation, have to take steps to address energy, environment and sustainabilty for our nation...This bill which is largely opposed by the GOP as a taxation issue (the single issue party?) is a step in the right direction. BTW, change was promised and change is coming...Learn the ropes of the new business' that will be generated by this legislation and stop trying to turn back the clock...Progress marches on...even for people who don't want it to.

Good work, keep spreading the word.

It makes you wonder what the true motivation of our representatives are or is it they do what they are told to do by the leadership.

Katerina,

Thank you. Often times these organizations forget why they exist. I do hope they are on the right side of this issue, and if they are they need to be vocal. Why do we need to serach for their position? Why aren't they out in front encouraging the defeat of this measure - unless they actually do hope it passes? :)

Steve

Where is the NAR on this?  Their mission is to make REALTORS profitable, blah blah.  They are so enthralled with the Chicago messiah, they will not represent the mambership on this most crucial issue.  Where is the NAR on getting legislation for group insurance rates for a million person group.

Richard,

In this fight, the capitalist in you needs to win out or they may not be any money to support the second part. And who gets to make China, India and the other countries who are less concerned about the environment  give us more of a chance to compete globally?

Rich,

Politicans - for the most part - want to get elected and stay elected until they call it quits. Therefore, much of what they say is designed for that purpose. Labeling this bill for the environment and security is the old apple pie and motherhood ploy. :)

Steve

Michael,

You are right. If it was but one sentence in the 1300 pages it would be enough to want this bill defeated. It will ruin the real estate business as we know it and give all the power to the banks and the feds. It actually has the potential to destroy property rights in this country. :)

Steve

Team Knowles,

Thank you for your excellent comments. Not only don't the feds have a right to mandate to the States, it is specifically prohibited by the Constitution. :)

Steve

Two weeks after his election as president, Barack Obama said, "Few challenges facing America and the world are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear." Shortly thereafter, more than 100 scientists signed a newspaper advertisement responding, "With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true." The scientists, from places as varied and esteemed as Los Alamos National Laboratory, the American Physical Society, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and the University of Pennsylvania, said the "case for alarm regarding climate change is grossly overstated."

Each day it becomes more evident that global warming, climate change or whatever the hell they are calling it this week is just a hoax designed to tax us for the very air that we breath.

Here is a good link to a video on the subject from Glen Beck that touches on a few housing issues:

http://www.brokeragentsocial.com/BrokerAgent/video/270

Toula,

Thank you. I appreciate your response. There is a false economy here brought about by trying to convince people that every home can be made energy efficient - maybe to a point. Some just can't. Do they get condemned? If we produced more energy and turned our backs on foreign oil (by drilling domestically and off shore), this would be a non-issue. Those who wanted to save money and make their homes more energy efficient could do so. Those who didn't wouldn't have to. We still have some freedoms - for now. :)

Steve

Tim,

Amen! 100% agree. Let's not let this one get away. We actually have some momentum building on our side. This time, they did go too far. :)

Steve

Marilyn,

When we go broke, the game changes. Why do we want to do this now? :)

Steve

Russ,

Call eveyone on Capitol Hill that you can think of. We have to prevail on this one. This could be a game changer for America as we have known it. :)

Steve

Is Obama a member of the Heritage Foundation?  One commenter's opinion is that all "fear mongering" on Cap & Trade comes from the Heritage Foundation.

Watch Obama as he comments about skyrocketing energy costs as a price we Americans pay for Cap & Trade Tax.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsIBtwUh6Q&NR=1

Darrell,

I am, too. I would love to see a House-cleaning (and Senate while we're at it). We don't have time for that. This measure needs to be stopped now. Then we can vote the rascals out anyway. :)

Steve

Terry,

Glad to have you part of the discussion. Please read the bill - not all of it - who could? The parts I cite are in there , but they are in government-speak. Won't be as many homes to stage if some of them can't be sold or financed. :)

Steve

Missy,

Thank you so much for your support, Help spread the word. Aside from the taxes and the repressive attitude toward coal and oil, the proposed impact on real estate is chilling. :)

Steve

Steve - I doubt anyone has read this bill in it entirety.  Any bill that requires 1300 pages is loaded with ambiguity regardless.  We are forcing a revolution in this country.  It wouldn't be the first.

Jessica,

Fantastic comments. Great observations. I like the way you expressed them. Thanks. :)

Steve

Edward,

I think that there are only a few ears in Washington that remain open. Those are the ones we need to reach. :)

Steve

Wow! With all these posts, it tells me that there are a lot of people sick and tired of the lies and deception we are receiving from Obama and Congress.  Tyranny comes to mind and it must be stopped.  Cap and Trade (Tax) is not about energy conservation, global warming or any other "cause".  It is about control and more of it.  What the Obama admin and Congress fail to tell everyone is (along with a prior post about passing the costs on to the consumers) that corporations will just open plants or increase production of existing plants outside our borders.  None of the large corporations will stop doing business or close their doors because of additional taxes levied on them - they'll just figure out a way to get around it and moving operations out of the country is the most desireable.  So as Steve titled his post, "Wake-up people" let's get the word out to as many people as we can!

Tony,

Agreed. When I called Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) office earlier this morning I was told that he didn't have a position yet. I suggested he get one pronto and he be against it. He has already experienced life in Cuba. :)

Steve

Sylvie,

Thank you for expressing your very learned opinion. This means that there are many reasons for not supporting this bill - environmental, economic and political. :)

Steve

Most of what I have read in this post is focused on whether or not the bill has been read.  What is missing is any debate as to whether or not the reason for the bill is even valid.  To even think there is a legitimate reason for this bill to exist in any form is to buy into the concept that humans have the ability to control or have an impact on global temperatures.  Proponants of this bill want you to believe that we, the United States, can lower global temperatures based on our energy consumption and production.  If this is true then we are also the cause of global warming.  Since we are to blame then we should all be forced to pay for our role in destroying the planet.

The real purpose of this bill is to raise the cost of cheap energy sources in order to make more expensive (green) sources more competitive.  Not to mention the carbon credit business of an ex vice president who used scenes from a hollywood disaster movie to scare you into believeing we are all doomed if we don't change our evil ways.

Lets talk about the cost to consumers.  There are estimates that this energy tax will increase the cost of consumer energy bills by about $1,600 per year.  Thats $1,600 you wont be spending on other products.  As we all know reduced consumer spending will devastate an already slow economy.  That means lost jobs as the companies that manufacture and distribute the goods we buy go out of business or cut back their work force.  The estimated cost doesn't even address the added cost of every product that uses energy in its production and delivery to market.  Is there any product you can think of that will not be affected by higher energy costs?

Even the president recognizes that his plan will increase the cost of energy.  Watch him say it in his own words here.  Obviously he feels that you can afford to pay for this folly of redistributing your wealth to the organizations he favors.

Bottom line is that this bill MUST BE STOPPED.  If passed this bill will result in a catastophe far greater than a 1/2 degree change in global temperatures.

This is just one more example of how our government is trying to crash our currently dying economy.  They want to control us more and more and rope everyone into a one-world government.  It would do every realtor good to post this link on their websites and facebook pages: 

http://www.examiner.com/x-3704-Columbia-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m6d26-Why-citizens-should-be-worried-over-pending-cap-and-trade-energy-tax?cid=email-this-article

I believe if more people become aware that there are evil, greedy people in control of our government that need to be outed and ousted, the future of our children will be much brighter.  If we don't do something about these wicked officials now, our children will pay dearly, but so will we.

Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.  The power grab that is happening at a phenomenal speed is frightening.  Now they are taking away States Rights??   They are quickly taking total control of our lives. 

If we allow this bill to pass the Senate we all had better look for new careers!!!

I've written all the people I know in my area.  What is sad is all the deaths publicized this week takes away from this important issue unfortunately.  I haven't seen it once mentioned this week in the mainstream media!

Thank you for the post. I heard some people speaking about some of these issues at dinner last night and I was almost sure they were joking.

The federal government is not the place to be creating laws like this and the "pass the bill before anybody has a chance to read it" mentality is offensive.

Hopefully this bill will not pass and the American people will have a chance to sort out the beneficial parts from the dangerous parts.

And to Paul above, change can be for the better or for the worse. Promoting change for the sake of change is not rational in our businesses, nor is it rational for our government.

Wow, I hadn't heard of the specifics of this bill...it sounds ridiculous!!

Green banking centers?!?!

Is it true the the NAR has come out in favor if this? That is complete BS. Lets add more layers of the Federal Government and call it "protecting" the citizens. What a bunch of crap. It is all about POWER. This Cap and Tax needs to be stopped immediatly.

Lucien brings up an important point.  Why is a bill on Global Warming being passed when 31,000 scientists reject the global warming theory? 

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=64734

http://www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php

Let's clean up the earth, but clean up the things that we can do something about...like our water and trash.

I think this bill will be defeated in the senate.

Point #3, is a silly thing to require, as the buyer should already be conducting it as part of their inspections, if they so desire.

Just one question about point #1:  Is the attempt to about the entire CA building code or just the Title 24 -- Energy Efficiency portion?  If it is just Title 24, I'm curious if your localities also require things like dual-pane windows and insulation in new construction?

Patricia,

Not sure if such a leter exists. Anyone? Phone calls are fine and you can call repeatedly. :)

Steve

Mark,

You are so right. Bills used to take time as people voting on them tried to understand what they meant, their implications, and get some sense of how their constituents felt. No more. Pass it before it spoils. :)

Steve

So what does everyone intend to do about it?  Do you think calling your Congressman will still work?  There are TEA Parties planned all over the country on July 4th.  Go to one.  It is a start. 

I hope it does not come to this, but a good thing happened in Honduras.  A President kept overstepping his bounds.  Finally the Supreme Court ordered his arrest by the military.  He was released and now claims it is a military coup.  It was not, it was a functioning government getting rid of a chief executive bent on becoming a dictator.  The Legislature stood up to him and is still functioning.  A replacement has been appointed and election will be held as scheduled.

The upholding of the Honduran Constitution has been denounced by Hugo Chavez, Castro, and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  You can always tell people by the company the keep.  Compare this to our governments strong support for Freedom in Iran (Yes I am being sarcastic!) and it should send a chill down your spine.

So what will you do about it? 

ONe person commented on fear mongering from the Heritage Foundation. I read the heritage foundation and they give the facts of these news stories and bills and votes and things that are happening rapid fire in our country.  The media half the time aren't even commenting on serious issues and pieces of news and when they do they give their OPINIONS to Americans, not the facts.

I too am curious and fearful as to why our country's wealth is being given away so quickly, without any of those who are VOTED IN BY US TO DO OUR BIDDING reading what they are voting on.  Nancy Pelosi said that she won't give a week before the Senate vote for AMERICANS to read the bill on health care before they pass it(notice her, PASS IT, she's confident) because this is too urgent an issue.  NO, it's not.  It needs to be understood by those who are paying for it.  She's not paying for it, she's forcing us to pay for it and we can't even read it?  I hope that the Lord convicts her on a daily basis for the harm she is doing to our country and our citizens and our future, as well as all of our elected officials.  What about the president?  There are other forces at work with that man, and with all that he is "doing".  I think there are strings galore and he is just the front man.  I can read and pray and understand for myself what is going on, and what I just feel in my gut is going on, and that is not fear mongering.  That is truth, put out there in any and every way possible, since we aren't getting that from our elected officials, and certainly not the socialist president.  Watch him "speak."  We know presidents don't make up their own speeches, and I feel that every word he says is a scripted lie.

HI STEVE,

THERE ARE MANY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESTATIVES WHO WERE UNABLE TO READ THE CAP AND TAX LEGISLATION BECAUSE 300 NEW PAGES ADDED  AND DELIVERED AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING OF THE DAY OF THE VOTE. ON CSPAN THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER READ PARTS OF IT INCLUDING SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPRAISORS TO IDENIFY THE AGE OF WINDOWS, APPLIANCES, HEAT AND COOLING IN THE DETERMINING THE VALUE OF PROPERTY. IT ALSO SAID THEY WERE TO GET SPECIAL TRAINING IN PUTTING THIS IN THEIR REPORTS. SOME OF THE OUTRAGE IS ON YOUTUBE.

HE MENTIONED THAT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS HAD ENDORSED THIS CAP AND TAX LEGISLATION !!!!!!!!!    

JERRY GRAY CRB,CRS/ PRUDENTIAL CAROLINAS REALTY / WINSTON SALEM, NC

California is BANKRUPT and the Feds are FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD?  Yikes!  Common sense truly does not exist with 'leaders' in Congress.

Contact your Senators TODAY and let them know if you are against this awful bill.  If your representative voted for it, let him/her know that you do not appreciate it and will remember this at election time.

Steve:  Thanks for an excellent post. You really get it. This country is in SERIOUS trouble.  I was sick to my stomach when I found out the vote results on Friday.  Add to that yet ANOTHER House vote on a bill that none of them read! What is happening to our country is so scary.   I can only HOPE that enough citizens will learn what this YES vote means and make it their DUTY to contact their senators and urge them to vote NO on this or they're going to be out of a job like the millions others who will lose theirs because of this bill. I've heard about a revolution coming.  You know something?  I am starting to believe it.  How much can this country take before it totally flatlines? We can no longer depend on our elected representatives.  Everyone has a voice.  USE IT!

NAR needs to hear from us as well as all of our legislators!  This is an insane bill!  Most scientists don't agree with the propoganda we are being feed from this administration about "Global Warming".  It is simply not true.  Just today news came out about a cover up of a report in the EPA that stated global warming wasn't happening.

Even the most cursory review of history shows us that sometimes governments do bad things to "their people".    YES, the sky is falling!   

This is so scary - as most of what has happened in our government over the last 6 months. The sad part is the only way we can make a difference is at voting time. I have written my reps and you get the canned - no questions answered email in response. Of course we can become vocal and the tea parties are a great idea but it is at voting time we need to really make our voices heard. Those reps that do not listen to their constituents need to be OUT! Dave Reichert - so you hear that!

Hi Steve

It's great to see the real estate professionals getting involved with this issue. We have to stop Washington from rushing the bill though with them being read and blindly being approved.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Thanks for this, Steve!  I pray for some sanity in the here and now as well as a lot of repealling in 2011 and beyond...

Don't look for CNN, or the other main stream media to report on this TAX bill!  I just checked CNN under politics and they have no less than 3 stories about Sanford and NOTHING about this horrid bill.  Who gives two flips about Sanford and his mistress?  Our country is in deep trouble!!

A link to this bill is below. If you don't know your reps you can find them on the same site. If you ever have trouble finding the final version of a bill that's being voted on you should be able to get it from your Congressperson. Mine has emailed bills to be in the past.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.2454:

Richard S.,

Putting all other issues aside, this bill just plain hurts us and peole who one property. :)

Steve

Paul,

Thanks for the comments, but many of us are not in favor of new or higher taxes - they only support more government. That aside. these regulations promise to drastically increase the cost of construction and even make some existing houses unsaleable. :)

Steve

Gary,

Thank you. I appreciate your agreement and support. You really do have to question some of their motives. :)

Steve

I heard about the potential impact to the real estate industry this morning on my favorite talk radio show, why is not being talked about on TV media? Obama himself said that what is going to bring us out of this current economic slump is the recovery of real estate and housing, yet if passes it will kill home sales. How can he say one thing and do another? 

Thomas,

I don't know where the NAR is on this. I'm trying tpo find out. If anyone knows, tell us.

The NAHB lobbied against it's passage, and I'm talking with their GA staff about this.

We must do our part, however. :)

Steve

Don,

There were many people who weren't on board with this even before the election. Now, the EPA issued a report yesterday (that was buried) that the tempeartures haven't changed at all in the last 60 years and that we might even be a little cooler now than then. :)

Steve

Don't know who left the link to the Glenn Beack video - didn't leave your name. Thank you. :)

Steve

Paula,

Thank you. Does anyone else find it amusing that there's all of this hullabaloo over carbon dioxide emissions when it's the very nutrient of plant life? And what do plants give off? Oxygen. The more plants there are, the more carvbon dioxide they can ingest, and the more oxygen they can produce. What a plan! :)

Steve

Kent,

I made the observation before that this bill is roughly the size of the Bible in print. Someone's going to sit down and read this in an evening? :)

Steve

So many people got "their guy" in office and now its time to start slapping your self in the face and admit you messed up.

Great blog Steve...Obama must go and it is time to change again..Not only with Cap and Trade but with the new Healthplan..

Would you like to find out you have breast cancer and then have to wait 8 weeks for a loved one to get treatment like in Canada,England and Europe...

That is what will happen if we don't stop the Health Care Plan not to mention how many people will die while ona waiting list for health care...

Why do you think we see so many people coming to America from those countries to get treatment right away.

Does anyone have a place where we can voice our opinions and be hear by the Senate?

Join a Teaparty on the 4the of July at teaparties.com or glennbeck.com

Steve - Congrats on your member spotlight and thank you for bringing this to our attention.  I wish government would realize that over-regulation is not going to be the solution to any of our problems.

Terry B.,

Thank you for your excellent comments. Right on about the businesses - they will go where than can produce at the best cost with the least regulation - used to be be a issue of different States competing for business, now it's more of countries competing - and we're going to hear that giant sucking sound continue. :)

Steve

"Obama himself said that what is going to bring us out of this current economic slump is the recovery of real estate and housing, yet if passes it will kill home sales. How can he say one thing and do another?"

I am fast realizing that obama says one thing and does exactly the opposite.  He believes the people are stupid enough to keep believing him!  They aren't...at least the large majority of folks aren't. 

"Would you like to find out you have breast cancer and then have to wait 8 weeks for a loved one to get treatment like in Canada,England and Europe...

That is what will happen if we don't stop the Health Care Plan not to mention how many people will die while ona waiting list for health care..."

It is actually worse than that.  Women with breast cancer in those countries are dying because, "the government doesn't have the money to pay for the needed drug therapies".  Canada has 20% higher death rate from breast cancer than the US.  People in the UK have to go BLIND in one eye before they get the ok to have a drug to save the other eye!

Heathcare is next

"Obama himself said that what is going to bring us out of this current economic slump is the recovery of real estate and housing, yet if passes it will kill home sales. How can he say one thing and do another?"

I am fast realizing that obama says one thing and does exactly the opposite.  He believes the people are stupid enough to keep believing him!  They aren't...at least the large majority of folks aren't. 

"Would you like to find out you have breast cancer and then have to wait 8 weeks for a loved one to get treatment like in Canada,England and Europe...

That is what will happen if we don't stop the Health Care Plan not to mention how many people will die while ona waiting list for health care..."

It is actually worse than that.  Women with breast cancer in those countries are dying because, "the government doesn't have the money to pay for the needed drug therapies".  Canada has 20% higher death rate from breast cancer than the US.  People in the UK have to go BLIND in one eye before they get the ok to have a drug to save the other eye!

Heathcare is next

Lucien,

Thank you for that well organized discussion. Especially love your conclusion - this bill must be stopped. :)

Steve

David,

Thank you for your support and thank you for the link to Anthony Martin's article. People are approaching this from different perspectives, but in the end, the conclusion is always the same - this bill is bad and needs to be stopped. :)

Steve

Annetta,

Well said. We will have to look for new careers because few of us will recognize the real estate business of the future or want to be a part of it. :)

Steve

Lyn,

Mainstream media only is impressed with the fact that bill purports to be about "environment" and "energy."  That's all they need to know. The details don't concern them. :)

Steve

Jon,

Great argument. Thank you. This 1300 page bill should probably be about 1000-1300 separate bills of 1-2 pages in length. Those we could understand - and so maybe could they. At least they could read each one. :)

Steve

Dan,

At this point it's only amusing - even though it's halfway on its way to becoming law. Now the real work begins to stop it cold. :)

Steve

WHAT TO DO??? First let me say I have no love for this President or Congress or for that matter the NAR.  However, I find myself conflicted in the fact that I specialize as a Ecco Green Realtor.  I am also a District Mgr for a Leed Certified Green Build Smart Panel Home Manufacturer who also specializes in Green build technologies to Retro-Fit older homes.  With that said, however, I am totally against any bill or law that's designed to take away my Freedom of choice.  Which is exactly what this President and the liberals in congress want to do.  My voice and opinion has already been heard.  I advise everyone here to do the same.  While your at it-find a few good CONSERVATIVES to vote for in the upcoming congressional election, so we can stop all this madness!! 

Scott,

It seems no one is sure of NAR's position - which is quite telling in itself. Stop the bill. We'll unload the deadwood after the fact. :)

Steve

Annetta,

Again you raise some great points. It's the old misdirection play. Point one way and then do something different. :)

Steve

Joseph,

All good questions. This bill is laden with ambiguities and language that begs for even more regulationa and laws to create and enforce its provisions. Think of this monstrous bill as a skeleton that will require thousands and thousands of even more pages to clarify it. :)

Steve

Steve...and to think those on the hill don't even take the time to read these bills.  Maybe there's 1000 pages the same in all these demands proposals. GROAN!!!!!

Gene,

I really like your comments. They could be a post as it is. Not sure if the phone calls help - but they can't hurt. The Senators are our main focus now for defeating the bill - and then we can focus on the Reps who voted for it to defeat them in 2010 - maybe even in the primaries so there is no doubt they messed up. :)

Steve

Amy,

Thanks for your comments and especially that insight into the Heritage Foundation. This country was founded on 3 distinct branches of government - separation of powers and checks and balances. When the Speaker "has to pass" the President's plan - and in a couple of days - because it's too important not to, she just condensed our government into 2 branches. :)

Steve

Jerry,

No one who has commented knows for sure NAR's position, and we've heard arguments like this that they may have in fact endorsed this legislation. I hope this is not true. I'll leave it at for now until I hear more. :)

Steve

Paula,

Not only that, I heard the President yesterday mention how well the economy in California had been doing. :)

Steve

Donald,

Well said. It's time those of us who are normally silent in such matters assert ourselves. :)

Steve

Barbara,

Thank you for those excellent comments - duty to speak out - love it. Use our voice or lose it - great stuff. :)

Steve

Georgia,

Great comments. NAR appears to be failing their membership - if for nothing else than not making their position clear, If they did actually support this ... :)

Steve

Jo,

We have the ultimate power despite what those old hangers-on in Congress think. In today's instant communication age, they just aren't prepared for us to know everything they're doing. Time is perfect for a major overall in personnel. :)

Steve

Lou,

I agree that it great to see so many people responding to this. I'm impressed and a little amazed. The House has already rammed this through. Now we have to stop it in the Senate. :)

Steve

WOW....why isn't NAR and all the builders association SCREAMING about this!  I better go check the NAR site to see if there is a "Call to Action" about this??

Derek,

Yes we always have the repeal process - but that's a little like hoping for a victory in overtime. Let's just win the game during regulation and defeat it in the Senate. :)

Steve

Georgia,

Why would we expect mainstream media to report on this? They might actually gain some credibility. :)

Steve

Jackie,

Thanks. All of us would had trouble getting the final copy of this bill because the Reps themselves didn't even have it. :)

Steve

Jill,

Welcome to the magic of politics where it's very easy for some to say one thing and do another. :)

Steve

Chuck,

The only thing that counts right now is stopping this bill. Then we can address other issues. :)

Steve

Mary,

Thank you for those great comments. We keep getting more and more agreemnt on stopping this, so let's do it. :)

Steve

Karl,

Thank you for your very kind words. Government isn't going to have any great revelations on their own - that's our job to educate them. :)

Steve

Georgia,

Appreciate those additional comments. Let's get this cap and trade nonsense stopped first. Then we can look at other issues. :)

Steve

Matt,

Thank you. I appreciate your professional position, and you want to continue to provide these services to the people who want them. As you said, it's a matter of choice. And I'm with you on the conservatives! :)

Steve

Gail,

I can't help but think of all the people who had to type all those pages - and in less than a week. :)

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the informative post.  Things are changing so quickly in our industry that it's hard to stay on top of all of the issues, yet it's so important that we do.

Christine,

Again, don't know anything about NAR's position. The NAHB did issue a "Legislative Alert" last week but many members did not see it. :)

Steve

I have read Steve's blog and the comments about CAT and what seems to be missing is what you all will do about global warming, this nations's abysmal energy consumption and how you would pay for it.  I hear complaining about President Obama.  Ok.  I spent eight years complaining about George W. Bush.  I read comments about too much regulation.  It actually appears that a lack of regulation on Wall Street and Hedge Funds was a major part of our financial debacle.

This country is the world's largest energy consumer.  United States energy consumption by sector falls out to about 33% for Industrial, 28% for Transportation, 21% for Residential and 17% Commercial.  Each one of those consuming sectors has Lobbyist and Lawyers ready to pounce on any piece of state or federal legislation that might be drafted.  As polar ice caps melt and weather patterns change causing increasing drought conditions throughout the globe, just how do we feed ourselves?

Here in California we are in the third year of a long drought season.  What does it matter?  Ask the Central Valley agriculture interests.  The Central Valley of California is the state's bread basket.  Produce from that area alone is shipped to all parts of this country.  What happens if we have three more drought years?

This nation and this global community must address the issue of global warming now.  I want my grand-children to have food on their plates and the security of a safe environment.  We, this nation and the others, spent generations creating this environmental mess we are in and it will take sacrifice on all our parts to repair it.  Will it cost each of us?  More than likely.  Will the way we all do business change?  Most definitely.

So you don't like CAT?  Then what is your response to this looming environmental, social and economic disaster that is upon us?  You don't like tax increases?  Well, either do I.  I cuss every time another weapon system is paid for that ran over budget by 127% and the Pentagon kept saying it didn't need or want.  I wasn't dancing for joy while George W. Bush got us into a war in Iraq that cost this nation thousands of brave service men and women...including those from my family.  I most certainly didn't like the massive debt he rang up during his eight years?

With all do respect to each of you who commented:  What would you do about global warming and our wasteful energy consumption?  You don't like CAT?  Ok. Fine.  I hear that.  Now tell me your solution to the problem, please.

Tonda and Steve,

This bill is a game changer. If you think things have been changing, hold on. This could be the big one. :)

Steve

I notified my Senators of my opinion on this unconscionable tax.  Everyone in this forum needs to do the same.

I saw a bumper sticker recently that I really like.   "I'm not anti-Bush, I'm pro-intelligence".

The idea that every house needs to have a plug-in for an electric car.   I love it!  I'm sure people squawked when they made every house have indoor plumbing, and a natural gas hookup, or at least some fuel besides wood and coal.  The farmers and pioneers were up in arms!  

And when they banned horses from the city streets; why it's an outrage that politcians should have so much control!

The trouble with the energy bill is that it is the lesser of two evils.  Because we in America have slipped so woefully far behind the Europeans and the Chinese in manufacturing, that large sucking sound you're hearing is not from some air scrubber removing polutants from the atmosphere; no, it's our manufacturing jobs that could be outsourced.  And, if they could be, they were, by the behemoth multi-national corporations. 

My ears perk up when I hear the term "Wake up people".  because it usually means someone who has been half asleep while something was happening and s/he was not aware, and now they recognize that things have spun out of control, so they figure the rest of us have been asleep at the switch.

Obama, Waxman, and Markey; these are some brilliant people, particularly our President. 

If Obama is for it, then I can assure you, this plan is, at a minimum, the lesser of two evils, and more likely, it takes a giant step toward implementing MUCH needed changes. 

The reason the federal gov't has to step in to quash the big multi-nationals is that giant sucking sound.  Today, it's the middle class.  Tomorrow, if the pace continues, there will be no middle class.  This energy bill is a step in the right direction.  A timid one, albeit, but it's a step. 

P.S.  People who drive Yukons, Tahoes and Suburbans -- unless it's a work truck, why are they driving such a behemoth monster?   It's because of people who were moderately asleep that GM had to take bankruptcy; people kept buying these gas-guzzlers so GM kept cranking them out, when they should have been building an affordable, reliable, highly-fuel efficient sedan, like the hybrid Camry, Highlander, or Prius. 

Now we're playing catch-up, and the same is true of our energy policies.  We need a LOT more wind, solar, and biofuels based energy than this bill provides, and we need it more quickly, but this bill is a start. 

Steve -- I agree with you; it IS a game changer, and a country saver.  It's about time.

OMG, I have a man-crush on Andrew!  When I read a comment like Andrew's that is so tightly crafted and cleanly to the point, I am jealous as heck.  Wow!

Annetta,

Scott Rhinehart summarized my thoughts on global climate change (and other things) pretty well.

About the 31,000+ "scientists" - I took some time to look into their touted qualifications and I must say I'm not impressed.  Metallurgists?  Come on.  MD's, DVM's, electrical engineers, mathematicians (I'm one of them) and statisticians, geologists, and many of the others have no training in climatology or atmospheric science.  And even if the title "environmental engineer" sounds very environmentally-friendly (I have an MS in environmental science and engineering), people should understand that environmental engineers are the people who design wastewater treatment plants and landfills, or the catchment systems that collect run-off from huge parking lots.  They may not know much at all about global climate change.  Those who signed the petition likely fall in that category.

Again, I don't believe CAT can be successful and I'd never sign off on it for reasons that don't need to be discussed here.  More relevantly to this forum, I don't think energy efficiency of existing buildings should be analyzed.  I can certainly see the possibility for abuse there, especially from lenders.

OK Scott, so I have an environmentalist-crush on Andrew.

Andrew - very well said indeed.  I'll make my way to your blog; I like your style.

Global Warming / Climate Change is the biggest scam of all time, but don't take my word for it, I urge you to see for yourself below.

I urge you to see for yourself below.

31,478 American scientists, including 9,021 with PhDs who have signed a petition stating that Global Warming is a farce:
http://www.petitionproject.org/ 

650 international scientists who dissent over man-made global warming claims:
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=2158072e-802a-23ad-45f0-274616db87e6

EPA May Have Suppressed Report Skeptical Of Global Warming
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/26/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5117890.shtml

Talking Points On Climate Change: Science, Economics, And More - by Jay Lehr, Ph.D
http://www.globalwarmingheartland.org/full/25354/Talking_Points_On_Climate_Change_Science_Economics_And_More.html

Pravda article about the coming Ice Age:
http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/106922-earth_ice_age-0

I'm a skeptic now, says ex-NASA climate boss - Hansen supervisor takes aim at thermageddon
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/28/nasa_climate_theon/

Weather Channel Founder: Global Warming ‘Greatest Scam in History'
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/11/07/weather-channel-founder-global-warming-greatest-scam-history

Video: Weather Channel Founder John Coleman slams global warming

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk8SSqc7ekM

The Amazing Story Behind the Global Warming Scam

http://www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner/38574742.html

Global warming? Not so fast, skeptics say at meeting

http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2009/06/global-warming-not-so-fast-skeptics-say-meeting

Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-08-09-gore-green_x.htm

Congressman Ron Paul Statement on Global Warming Petition Signed by 31,478 Scientists
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=114

Scientist: Global Warming Evidence, Claims Exaggerated

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500327,00.html

Gore Pulls Slide of Disaster Trends
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/gore-pulls-slide-of-disaster-trends/

Japan's boffins: Global warming isn't man-made -Climate science is ‘ancient astrology', claims report

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/25/jstor_climate_report_translation/

Scientists meet to dispute global warming theory

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=439146

CO2 a pollutant? ‘Ridiculous,' says scientist

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=433994

UW-Milwaukee Study Could Realign Climate Change Theory

http://www.wisn.com/weather/18935841/detail.html

Shocker: ‘Global warming' simply no longer happening

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92557

U.N. ‘Climate Change' Plan Would Likely Shift Trillions to Form New World Economy

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510937,00.html

Boffins: Atlantic temperature ruled by dust, not CO2

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/27/atlantic_dust_temp_hurricane_study/

NASA: Clean-air regs, not CO₂, are melting the ice cap

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/09/arctic_aerosols_goddard_institute/

Rise of sea levels is ‘the greatest lie ever told'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/5067351/Rise-of-sea-levels-is-the-greatest-lie-ever-told.html

More Americans Believe Global Warming Natural Versus Man-made

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/04/18/more-americans-believe-global-warming-natural-versus-man-made

Report: Antarctic Ice Growing, Not Shrinking
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517035,00.html

Fuzzy Math: According to an MIT study, cap and trade could cost the average household more than $3,900 per year

http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/412cwueq.asp?pg=2

Report: Democrats Refuse to Allow Skeptic to Testify Alongside Gore At Congressional Hearing  
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/429/Report-Democrats-Refuse-to-Allow-Skeptic-to-Testify-Alongside-Gore-At-Congressional-Hearing

Rep. Dingellbury (D-MI): Cap And Trade Is A Big Tax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_VqTQiQsp4

NBC Affiliate Meteorologist Rips MSNBC for Apocalyptic Global Warming Special

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/04/27/nbc-affiliate-meteorologist-rips-msnbc-apocalyptic-global-warming-special

Herald Sun:  Global warming alarmists out in cold

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25401759-5000117,00.html

Investor's Business Daily: Deeper In Red From Going Green
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=324686795308861

Top British boffin: Time to ditch the climate consensus

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/06/mike_hulme_interview/

WaPo: Memo exposes global warming dispute - EPA science called 'stretch' 
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/13/memo-exposes-warming-dispute/

Deep Ocean Conveyor Belt Reconsidered

http://davehatter.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/global-warmingclimate-change-is-the-greatest-scam-in-history/

Skeptical Environmentalist' Doubts ‘Underwater Manhattan' Global Warming Scenario

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/05/18/skeptical-environmentalist-doubts-underwater-manhattan-global-warming-sce

Elites out of touch on guns and climate

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090526/OPINION03/905260311/1008/opinion01/Elites-out-of-touch-on-guns-and-climate

WSJ: Need for Speed (Read) to Pass Climate Bill

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124278191732237461.html

US Chamber:  Endangerous Science

http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/06/endangerous-science.html  

 NRO: Behind the Cap-and-Trade Curtain

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTQxNDQwMGJiNmMzNDUyYjk5MTRhZmUxOTFiNzYyNzM%3D

Fortune: What if global-warming fears are overblown?

http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/14/magazines/fortune/globalwarming.fortune/index.htm

WSJ: The Climate Change Climate Change

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597505076157449.html

Science and Public Policy Institute

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/

Wow, I had to look a long way down the list to see a responce I would agree with. Well done Andrew!

My last post is pretty overwhelming. That must be how the House Reps. felt. Only problem is they did not take the time to read the 1300 page bill. They just took a vote without any thought to the unintended consequences to the American people. Their constituents. It is all about payback time to all of those who got them elected. It is all about Power and Control.

Here is an example on the Republican side.

Who's behind the Cap-and-Tax 8 Republicans? You won't be surprised. Kevin Mooney at the Examiner reports:

Rep. Kirk of Illinois, for instance, was among the top 20 recipients of PAC donations from environmental groups in the 2008 election cycle. He received $1,000 from the League of Conservation Voters (PAC), $4,000 from Ocean Champions (PAC) and $4,000 from Republicans for Environmental Protection (PAC). In this same cycle Republicans for Environmental Protection also donated $4,000 in PAC funds to Rep. Reichert.

The League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club have directed support toward the New Jersey Republicans who voted for the new regulations. Rep. LoBiondo received $1,020 from the League of Conservation Voters (PAC) in the 2008 election cycle and $2,010 from the Sierra Club (PAC) in the 2006 election cycle.

 

I say there is consequences.

 

Scott,

I like your question about global warming. What would I do about it? Since the EPA said yesterday that it doesn't exist, I guess there's nothing that needs to be done. :)

Steve

Paula,

I have done likewise (with one, couldn't reach the other) and will continue to do so. Don't think that once is enough. Thanks for all you are doing. :)

Steve

hopefully Imhofe is right and this bill is DOA in the Senate

Steve, I echo your concerns.  This bill has far reaching implications.  This goes well beyond real estate and will effect anyone who earns an honest living.  It is my hope that the Senate will slow this down and actually get it out to Americans.  Little fanfare initially, but it has been getting out. 

I hope that the names of all who voted for this will be placed out there.

~shakes head~   There were more than enough of business ppl that forwarned of Obama and gang before the last election, not enough were listening. The Real Estate industry/service will never be the same again.

This is only the beginning, there's more coming down the road, and there's nothing you can do about it, call your congressman/woman, they don't care if their dems., they have their own policies and they'll push them right on through even if it means taking away all that you believe in....

One world, one nation, one state, one people all dictated by one group... for those that wanted "Change", hope you have some left over in your pocket by the time Obama is done.....

Actually, a quick visit to the EPA's website page State of Knowledge does not state that global warming doesn't exist.  In the page section titled What's Known, it speaks to what is "virtual certainty" about greenhouse gases and climate trends.  They have another section titled What's Very Likely and a final section titled What's Not Certain.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/stateofknowledge.html

Andrew,

It still all about choice. Home were not mandated to have indoor plumbing - in fact there are likely some that still don't. America still means freedom. :)

Steve

Annetta,

I like your conclusion that the bill shouldn't be law - that's good enough for me. :)

Steve

Alice,

When you do your homework, you really do it. Great job and thank you. :)

Steve

Vincent,

You couldn't agree that our profession needs protecting? :)

Steve

Alice,

Thank you for addressing the letter to our Sen. Nelson. Was that intentional? :)

Steve

Apologize for posting again, but this issue is way to important to just let go........

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The idea of making it mandatory to have a plug in buildings for an electric car sounds great, but it should be a choice, not a requirement. Indoor plumbing is a choice, who is the government to make that choice, if you build a cabin in the woods, it's your choice to have indoor plumbing, can you see having to build a cabin and putting in a plug for an electric car when you don't even have electricity to the place?

The true trouble with the energy bill is taking away freedom of choice. Americans haven't slipped behind the EU and Chinese in manufacturing, they went to the Chinese because of cheaper labor cost. And the EU manufacturing is subsides by their governments. This is America, not china or the EU. Americans have been asleep at the switch, we've been conned to think that “Change” meant change for the better, not to have our Constitution downtrodden by someone that claims to love American Ideals. The sucking sound is your money draining from your pocket, didn't Obama pledge that he wouldn't raise taxes on the middle class? Who do you think is going to pay for this energy bill, the fairy Godmother?

And where in the Constitution does it say that the Government will take over private businesses (GM)? Or that it's the Governments job to run a private business? Or that the Government can fire a private citizen from a job? This energy bill is nothing more than a coverup for new taxes. New taxes are what will kill the middle class, and maybe that's exactly what our “intelligent” president wants....

Daniel,

I'm with you on this one. The Senate normally takes longer to consider bills anyway. :)

Steve

Tim and Pam,

The comments received so far are encouraging. I think we may have a fighting chance. :)

Steve

Kenneth,

Wow, I think we might have a little more upside here than you portray - but I understand you comments. :)

Steve

"The real estate business as we know it is at risk."

This is the case regardless of any federal legislation.  Key words being: "as we know it"

Here's an interesting piece from across the pond: http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article6286231.ece

Scott,

I just know that there was a report released yesterday. The issues in this bill are taxation and loss of freedoms. :)

Steve

Kenneth,

Glad you posted your additional comments. Absolutely this is about freedoms and choice. :)

Steve

Daren,

Read the piece you referred to. When I say as we know it, I'm talking free enterprise and willing buyers and sellers. :)

Steve

From one day to the next you never know what's going to be in the news. Wait til tomorrow it will change.

Patricia Aulson/portsmouth nh

Thank you for this post.  Very important information.

I just looked and it doesn't look like NAR is doing a Call for Action on this. I am going to call them in the morning to find out why. Thanks for calling attention to this.

Patricia,

That's true, but sometimes what they aren't talking about is what we need to focus on (like this). :)

Steve

Kenneth,

Thank you for your support and interest. Keep the pressure on your Senators. :)

Steve

Steve - Wow....I finally got through all 198 comments and have to say you've spurred quite a debate on what I think is one of the most outrageous bills I've ever seen.  I'm still at a loss for words as to how this bill passed in the House without anyone reading it.  Why is there such a rush to pass this when we're in still in the middle of an economic crisis and haven't even made a dent in the housing problem?  I pray that the Senate has more sense than our House of Representatives and defeats it when their time comes to vote.

Jen,

According to a statement on their website that I just found, the NAR claims to have given support to the bill after getting assurance that the inspections would only apply to new homes. Don't know if this was actually accomplished but dividing the industry is not a helpful solution. Also supporting the bill for all of the other detrimental effects just because you got one of your points is not good either. :)

Steve

Donna,

I agree with you. For some reason, it seems to be the conventional political wisdom in the Administration and Congressional leadership that if you don't give people time to reflect on what they're voting on, they'll just pass it because they're told to. :)

Steve

Steve,

I have also written a blog to send other's to read your astute analysis of what is going to happen if this Cap and Trade situation is passed...

Thank goodness you are on top of everything...Great post!

Karen,

Thank you for your support and in helping to get the message out. :)

Steve

Way to many posts for me to read them all.....just lazy I guess. but it seems as if most comments agree with you Steve... I dont

Its apathy like mine and arrogance like yours that got us into this global warming, climate change mess to begin with. Actually the words apathy and arrogance are a little too polite. To think that we can dig up and burn all the fossil fuel the earth has to give up in just a few generations without consequence is just plain stupid.  Its way past time to do something, but Im not sure what. And I dont care what. But something has to be done by us or something will be done to us (the end of the world perhaps)  If you dont like Cap and Trade (its a little complex for my taste) then perhaps you would prefer a permit system and/ or direct tax.    

Steve: Regarding the 3 concerns you voiced.

1)Federal standards, ......Its a national problem, not a state problem it needs a national solution (actually a global solution)

2) A new electrical outlet for every home......That dosent sound too bad to me. In my town every property owner  is being forced to pay for water and sewer lines. (I know its hard to believe but those damned government fools want to protect us from drinking our neighbors crap)

3) an energy efficiency inspection and report. Now that really is dumb. All thats really necessary is to add up all the energy bills for a year or so; divide by the number of people that live there to calculate the Energy Dollars Per Person Factor. (EDPPF) An EDPPF over a certain amount will be punished by death. Thereby solving the root cause of the problem; an overpopulation of selfish jerks. Seriously though dosent every prudent homeowner make sure the windows and doors are caulked properly, and when it comes time to replace a water heater, furnace or airconditioner opt for the most energy efficient one as practical. We want our meat inspected, we buy electrical appliances that carry the UL seal of approval. We accept and expect that building inspectors check the work of our plumbers and electricians. Whats wrong with a whole house energy efficiency inspection upon transfer. Not only does that preserve free choice (one can still buy or not but as they see fit, but it improves on that by making it an informed free choice

Cap and Trade does not mean the end of our business as we know it. but with any luck it will mark the end of life as we know it, We may have to grow up a little, become a little less self indulgent, may have to sacrifice a little for the common good. we may have to change, but we will survive. After all whats the alternative.

Another thing on the political to do list.

Ron,

This nation was founded on liberty and the right of free will subject to rule of law. Cap and trade infringes on those liberties and on the Constitution. :)

Steve

Mike,

True, but this is an important one. Put it at the top of your list. :)

Steve

And just exactly who is going to do all of this remodeling when the homes are not energy efficient????  That work can NOT be done with a keyboard and a mouse-----------  

I think I have to agree with Ron and others on this one----this has nothing to do with liberty or freedom----well except in the ultimate sense of the words.

Here is an interesting video of how our children are being indoctrinated in our schools on a daily basis by the far left.

The Story of Stuff is a Leftist Indoctrination Movie Being Shown in Schools All Over America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5uJgG05xUY

Steve actually it was not on purpose.

Keep it up!!!

Here is an interesting video of how our children are being indoctrinated in our schools on a daily basis by the far left.

The Story of Stuff is a Leftist Indoctrination Movie Being Shown in Schools All Over America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5uJgG05xUY

Steve actually it was not on purpose.

Keep it up!!!

Andrew- Who are you to be the judge of what people in America drive? If I want to drive a Hummer that is my business. Carbon offsets being harmful to the environment is a joke. In fact, if you do your due diligence, in France, they use the Carbon to raise the best vegetables and plants without the need for pesticides. The Carbons is what our trees and flowers need to live and breathe. There is proof from scientists that our carbon emmissions are actually the opposite of what THEY want you to believe.

There are always two sides to any story.

You nor the government nor anyone else has the right to legislate what kind of light bulbs I use in my home or how long I take a shower for!

This is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, this is NOT about your love for the environment. That is just a dog and pony show.

Over 30,000 scientists worldwide now have come out of the closet and been able to prove that climate change is a natural cycle and not man caused and therefor man will not be able to stop what naturally occurs. God is smarter than man. I think he is smart enough to have added enough precaustions and protections into his creation that man will not be able to totally destroy the earth unless it is his will.

And you say that this is to help the middle class? Where did you get that information.

THe poor people will suffer the most from this bill. They will not be able to afford to heat their homes. THere are a lot of poor people who live in coal powered energy sectors. Coal is being attacked even though we are the coal capital of the world. We have so much coal we can heat homes very cheaply and with new coal technology, cleanly. But coal is cheap, therein lies the problem. The elitists from the northeast, the west coast and the DC areas are about money, not cheap energy. They want control and they want the money.

We have more natural gas in Alaska that can be piped safely and cleanly all throughout the US that we would not be dependant on foreign energy. In fact, there is so much gas and oil there that ships from all around the world would be coming to us to buy their oil. But we can not do that, because that makes sense. YOu see, there is a pay off for us being dependent on foreign oil. There is always a reason. Just follow the money. Katerina

Marty,

Are you are remodeler and concerned that your business might suffer? :)

Steve

Charles,

Sorry to disagree, but this is precisely about freedom and liberty - free enterprise, the right of choice, the right to compete in the word market against the likes of China and India, the rights of States versus the federal government, individual property rights, the right to consume, and so much more. :)

Steve

Alice,

Thanks. Good timing I'd say - looked like it could have been on purpose - which is fine. :)

Steve

Katerina,

!!!! Thank you. Very well said and explained - for anyone reading this thread or concerned about how we got to where we are. :)

Steve

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90/10 Rule.  That's my definition of who is controlled and who is controlling.  90% of us are controlled by the other 10% of the population.  This 10% are what I call the grey suits.  Most of our governing politicians are not part of this 10%, though they may be rewarded with perks and campaign contributions.  I am not cynical by nature or by desire but the events of the last 8 to 10 months have caused me to really look at the insanity swirling all around.  Global warming and the need for a clean energy bill and policies has been an issue, for me, that seemed obvious and the right step to move forward to.  However, after reading Matt Taibbi's article "The Great American Bubble", I now question the "real" motivation for a clean energy bill.  Could the grey suits be positioning themselves again for the next bubble that will eventually burst like the housing bubble that was created and crafted by the grey suits (mortgage backed securites with laxed regulations and ratings)?  I've provided a link to this article that I would encourage all of you to read.  It is lengthy but well worth the time.  If nothing else read about Goldman Sacs (one of the grey suits) influence on the housing bubble and the pending carbon-credit market they will most likely profit from.  We may be complaining about the points that were brought out in this post that are in this bill, but what may be unnoticed are the provisions that will allow corporations like Goldman Sacs to make obscene profits on the backs of the other 90% of the population.  One other note of interest in this article I found was the revolving door between Goldman Sacs executives and policy makers in our government.  I suppose you could say they are adhering to the  Go Green Theme - Recycle, Reuse. Here's the link:

http://zerohedge.blogspot.com/2009/06/goldman-sachs-engineering-every-major.html

Kristie,

Thank you for those insights and observations. I intentionally focused on just some top real estate implications of this bill because I thought that would illustrate that the bill needed to be defeated just on the basis of this. There are so many more aspects to this bill - as you suggest - that are reason for concern also. :)

Steve

Katerina,

I don't think Andrew benefits financially from wanting to protect the environment; if he lives sustainably, it probably costs him more money. The truth is that we don't pay the actual cost for what we consume. Producing our food, our big "toys", our houses, our heat, electricity, etc. has environmental and social costs we haven't been paying since the industrial age, and it's catching up with us.

We humans are trashing God's most beautiful creation - our planet, our home that He made beautiful and pure just for us so that we could breathe, drink, and eat. We want to buy more "stuff" more cheaply, and we continue to feed the boundless greed of corporations and those who run them, but we do so at the expense of our habitat - our air, our water, and even our food supply. As a species, we are arrogant and selfish. Precautions and protections? God all but wiped out humanity before.

The French may very well raise the best vegetables (I'm from there originally and my family still lives in France), but they do need and use pesticides. And since you have done your due diligence, I'd like you to educate all of us on how the French use that carbon to grow better vegetation. I'm very curious about that and would love to apply those methods in my own vegetable garden. And while we're talking about the wonderful things the French do, let's consider the fact that they drive tiny cars on their narrow streets - not Hummers. They also pay about $6 per gallon for gasoline. They have government-run medical care and social benefits for all, including nearly free excellent college education.

Now let's talk about the 31,000+ "scientists" from the petition again. As I said in a previous post, the group of 31,000+ “scientists” includes people who have no background in climate science. You can find them here: http://www.petitionproject.org/qualifications_of_signers.php They haven't proved anything; they wrote their names on a petition - hardly a proof that global climate change isn't happening. Now if we count everyone worldwide, or even just in the US, who has some sort of degree in science, 31,000 is a very tiny number. Secondly, someone with a bachelor's degree in science isn't educated or trained enough to prove anything. And those who are MD's and DVM's, mathematicians, engineers aren't trained in areas that would qualify them to prove anything about climate change. Hopefully my MD works on human bodies, continues to educate himself in medicine, and isn't distracted with side projects that require a Ph.D. in atmospheric science and are peer-reviewed by other Ph.D scientists who have the proper expertise.

The sheer number of comments on this post shows that there are two opposing views on the subject of global climate change. Many of the people who commented believe that one of those views is right and the other isn't. If we err, let's err on the side of safety.  Let's act preemptively.  And let's hope that over a billion people in China and another billion in India don't all decide that they should be able to drive Hummers too :-)

Sylvie,

As you may recall from reading the opening line of my post, I said that this thread was regardless of how we felt about energy use or climate change. Some of that has drifted into the discussion as sidebars. Let me refocus.  This bill is detrimental to real estate. That's the bottom line. That's why we must defeat it. :)

Steve

Steve, with all  due respect, the framers of our Constitution had no idea what Cap and Trade was.  They had no idea we would land men on the moon.  They had no concept of a world shrinking to the size of a dot-and-a-com.

The true brilliance of the framers of The Constitution rests in their collective ability to craft a document that is able to change and adapt to new times and new ideas.  No freedoms are lost.  They expand and are cast anew upon the waters.  Each word, thoughtfully and painstakingly placed, to give it life...not stagnation.

Change is inevitable.  Change to the way we do real estate is inevitable.  Change to the way we waste valuable natural resources is inevitable.  Those that fear change...those that deny change will...not make it.

The Free Market is Natural Selection at its mightiest.  It isn't fair and it isn't always clean and tidy.  The old ways of doing real estate, doing business, doing life are changing.  They've been changing since the First of Days, Genesis, The Big Bang...whatever your belief system.  You, me and all the others have a choice...embrace change or be left behind to wonder what happened. 

Steve, I disagree with your blog on CAT but will always defend your right to be soooooooooooooo wrong.   

Sylvie, I think my man-crush and your enviromental crush scared Andrew away!

Scott,

So how are your going to sell real estate if this CAT is passed?  What's going to change the way you work? How are you going to sell older homes?  I don't see that you will be able to...so with all due respect can you elaborate.

Karen

Hi Steve

You have had an outstanding response to your post. 

At this point in time we still enjoy the freedom of speech in the country and the readers are expressing their prospective to the bill and that's outstanding.

What's very important about the Cap and Trade is the bill has to be read in its entirety to understand the impact of the bill on the country and the people. There are bits and pieces of the bill that inter acts with other parts of the bill. So we can't relay on a sentence or a paragraph to understand the bill. 

What I'm so concerned about was Washington voted on a bill without reading it and fully understanding the bill and how the bill impacts the country. 

I can tell you I made the calls to Washington and at best get the run around by many of our representatives.

The Cap and Trade Bill will have a negitive affect on the country and the people. 

Please read the bill and form your option. 

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Karen and Lou,

Thank you for underscoring the importance of this bill as something that we cannot tolerate from a business standpoint. Forget all the other issues - even if you support them. The point is that this bill is bad for real estate. :)

Steve

Steve - yes, we all went way off topic.  You might recall that I'm not the one who dragged God and the French into this discussion.  And since I'm a "scientist" / mathematician / environmental engineer who was born in and grew up with the French culture...well, how could I resist commenting?  The temptation was too great. You must have known you opened Pandora's box when you wrote your blog.

Even if I disagree with some, I don't think any of the people who have participated in this discussion want to trash the planet. And even if this probably isn't the right place to get into these discussions, I think it's good to have them and, hopefully, listen to each other respectfully and be willing to admit to being wrong based on actual evidence presented by people who have the proper training. We should always consider the source of information, and use the brain God gave us to think rationally and question not only the opposing side of issues, but also our own side. Some of us are more willing to do that than others.

I think we both come to the same conclusion about CAT but for extremely different reasons. You wouldn't like mine, but it doesn't matter.

Here in San Antonio I see home-buyers, builders, and investors "greening up." As investors gentrify old neighborhoods, they're introducing environmentally-friendly features into those old homes and, therefore, make them more attractive and valuable.  People are going green voluntarily here, and I like that.

Scott - Andrew must be busy selling real estate!  Speaking of which...  A bientot.

FOX news is now reporting issues with the CAT situation as well. 

Really Steve,  I don't even think those that represent us even understand the ramifications of this bill.

Is there a Realtor, NAR, or anyone who can explain this to the President around in Washington...I doubt it.

Steve, I think you should forward your post and the comments to the White House....

Steve

Re-focusing as you suggest.

"Bad for Real Estate"...is that the only filter through which you judge the merit of any public policy?...Dont tell me you are one of those single issue, litmus test knid of guys.  Thats a  little self centered and short sighted. And Wrong! 

Real estate will still exist, and some measure of private property rights will still exist. And , I think, consultants and sales people will still be needed to help folks navigate through the laws and regulations that apply.  The problem is, of course, that as our business becomes more complex we will have to keep up or drop out. Some might see that as a problem; I dont.

The entire bill is based on a LIE!  Why go any further into this discussion?  The bill will steal money from the tax payers, all on a LIE.  Ice levels have been proven to be back at 2000 levels.  The globe is actually COOLING.   Man has no ability to control the natural cooling and warming of our planet folks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7VUg7nG3lw

Sylvie,

As long as we agree that bill needs to be defeated, that's enough for me. :)

Steve

Karen,

I agree that there are many, dangerous, far-reaching effects of this bill. :)

Steve

Georgia,

This bill is harmful on many different levels. Thanks for opposing it. Please contact your Senators and urge others to do the same. :)

Steve

Ron,

You're right. I'm a single issue guy - freedom. "Some measure of private property rights" doesn't do it for me. :)

Steve

Steve

Im afraid some measure of private property roghts going to have to do.....

You are, I bet, not free to build a high rise or a gas station, in your neighborhood, Id also bet that you cant keep a cow or a pig or a rooster as a pet. Can you park your 18 wheeler in the back yard?  Zoning laws, public healh laws etc  all compromise our private property rights for the common good. That's part of  the price we pay to be part of a civilized society. 

Ron,

The right to own property is not a license to do just anything with it, but many zoning districts are quite permissive and flexible. :)

Steve

Steve,

I sent you 2 emails re: your training class.  I can see how it may have gotten lost in all these comments you are getting from this post.

Congrats and thanks for bringing it to everyones attention.

Karen,

Thanks again, and I will be contacting you about the classes. :)

Steve

Great, thanks.