Exxon contributes $1 million to carbon tax campaign

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill



BY TIMOTHY CAMA - 10/09/18 10:23 AM EDT

Exxon Mobil Corp. is making a $1 million contribution to an advocacy effort to back a tax on carbon dioxide emissions.

The money is going to Americans for Carbon Dividends, launched earlier this year to promote the Climate Leadership Council’s plan.

The proposal, backed by big businesses and former Republican policymakers like former secretaries of State James Baker and George Shultz, to put a $43 per metric ton tax on carbon dioxide emissions. All of the revenue would go back to taxpayers under the plan.

“This is a significant step in furtherance of the Baker-Shultz carbon dividends proposal,” said Greg Bertelsen, senior vice president of the Climate Leadership Council.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/410541-exxon-puts-1-million-into-carbon-tax-campaign

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Sounds like a great shell game to me

Tax the CO2, pass the taxes along so consumers pay for the tax, give the money back to taxpayers. Taxpayers would never see a dime! It will be in general revenue. Even if they cut taxpayers a 'royalty' check, you're taking it from one hand and giving it to the other.

[hatrack]

2. Yes, they LOVE this concept - it eliminates all legal liability for their actions

And they come right out and say so.

EDIT

While the plan’s promoters are suggesting it’s a win for everyone, the relatively low level of taxation and support of the fossil fuel industry raises myriad questions.

“Most would say a carbon tax is a great idea if you can get it right and make it stick—it’s what we want, a price on carbon,” said Kert Davies, director of the Climate Investigations Center.
“But who’s the client —who’s paying Hill+Knowlton—is it Exxon or is it one of the fossils?” he said, adding that the issue of litigation seems out of sync with the rest of the Baker-Schultz plan.

The liability waiver means municipalities would be unable to file climate liability suits against fossil fuel companies. Many of those suits are already in progress, led by some California communities, New York City and most recently, the state of Rhode Island, as cities and towns wrestle with how to pay for climate impacts that are already happening.

“Robust carbon taxes would also make possible an end to federal and state tort liability for emitters,” wrote Baker and Schultz, in the plan, which was unveiled last year by the Climate Leadership Council, a 501(c)(3) policy institute founded by author and policy entrepreneur Ted Halstead.

EDIT

https://www.climateliabilitynews.org/2018/07/17/carbon-tax-climate-liability-waiver/

[Cicada]

3. I'll take a tax on co2 any way we can get it

[Scruffy1]

4. A million dollers from a company that has 3.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

It sounds to me like cheap insurance from lawsuits.Desn't ake long t run up a million in lawyers fees.