Marita Noon: Increase Revenues = Better Economy Not Higher Taxes



Marita Noon

Commentary by Marita Noon, Executive Director of Energy Makes America Great - Admittedly, we, as a country, need to get past this debt-ceiling crisis and, consequently, it has consumed the news cycle. But, the proposed solutions focus mainly on two elements of the problem, while the rating agencies seem to be looking at the bigger picture. So, how’d we get here? The over-simplified answer is basically the same way any household account gets into trouble: too much spending and not enough income. Despite the bad numbers, the administration’s policies continue to discourage a true revenue increase while the President continues to support raising taxes. A variety of business and industrial groups are working together to point out the detrimental impact of the EPA’s proposed new ozone ruling, calling it, “one of the greatest threats to U.S. economic growth and job creation.” If implemented, the new rule will put most of the country, including nearly all of California, in a non-attainment status, which will require, as estimated by the EPA, $20-90 billion annually. Companies would be punished by having to obtain emission offsets (doing through regulation what—at the prodding of the people—Congress didn’t support in cap-and-trade proposals), install controls, and face expensive retrofits just to be allowed to continue current operations. Read more

Marita Noon: Increase Revenues = Better Economy Not Higher Taxes