“Special Interests” Love Cap and Trade

Conn Carroll / March 02, 2009

In his weekly radio and Internet address this past Saturday, President Barack Obama predicted that his agenda would draw attack from “special interests and lobbyists” on several fronts. If by “attack” he meant “support” than Obama is 100% correct. The Center for Public Integrity released a study last week reporting that hundreds of companies are trying to influence who will be the winners and losers under President Obama’s promised cap and trade carbon plans. According to the report:

more than 770 companies and interest groups hired an estimated 2,340 lobbyists to influence federal policy on climate change in the past year, as the issue gathered momentum and came to a vote on Capitol Hill. That’s an increase of more than 300 percent in the number of lobbyists on climate change in just five years, and means that Washington can now boast more than four climate lobbyists for every member of Congress.

Remember, it was Enron who was the first big business supporter of cap and trade policies. (more…)