Cantwell pushes for new fees to make extreme enviros happy

Washington’s junior Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell is a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. And, as part of her position as the senior liberal on the committee, she is taking it upon herself to push for new fees on a federal coal program—a program that produces about 40% of the nation’s coal.

Never one to miss an opportunity to help her special interest buddies on the environmental Left, Cantwell would like the program to “reflect the costs of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.” Cantwell, along with seven other Senate Democrats, sent a letter to the Interior Secretary making the demand just in time for the agency’s review of the program.

Specifically, the letter suggests the Obama administration charge federal-land coal fees. The plan would raise royalties paid by companies that mine the fuel on public lands.

The letter is critical of the Obama administration’s approach to the issue, expressing concern for the lack of a plan to address the “negative impacts of federal coal.” You know, “negatives” like how many jobs it produces, how coal production helps economies in states that Democrats like Cantwell fly over on their way to fundraisers, etc.

The letter uses the classic liberal talking points, blaming climate change for everything from “extreme weather” to “increased incidences of heart and lung disease.” Anything to keep the Sierra Club-types happy, and contributing to Democrats.

Critics of Cantwell and Company’s plan argue that it is taxpayers who, in the end, will lose out as a result of the scheme. They point out the fact that coal companies could simply get their coal elsewhere.

Sen. Patty Murray joined fellow Democrat Cantwell in signing the letter, of course.