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It’s always funny to see Big Media members reporting something completely contrary to what another Big Media outlet is reporting. It’s schadenfreude, to be sure. However, I do hope that I am forgiven for my inexplicable delve into the human weaknesses.
Joshua Siegel I don’t know. I can’t find his age online — he looks to be 20-something. That would mean that he was in junior college when I left DC. His statement said that he was in junior high school when he left DC. Check-marked Twitter bioSiegel is a writer for the truly awful Pathetico – oops, I mean Politico. But a cursory Web search shows that prior to that, Siegel wrote for two excellent outlets – the Washington Examiner and the Daily Signal.
Siegel is an “energy and climate reporter.” So he’s on the carbon beat. It’s a beat I am on in some ways. Which is why a month ago I wrote this….
Border Carbon Tax: DC Can Do Better – When It Chooses to Do So:
“Last September, we were the only non-Democrat country championing the carbon border tax.
“Democrats Propose Border Tax Based On Carbon Emissions:
“Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) announced Monday a new import tax for countries failing to meet U.S. carbon emissions standards….
“Goods covered by the proposal include petroleum, coal, aluminum, steel, iron and cement.
“The tax would be on par with the environmental fees levied against American companies under state and federal regulations….
“‘We must ensure that U.S. workers and manufacturers aren’t left behind…” Coons said….”
“What a novel concept for DC that is.
“Flash forward to last week. And the carbon border adjustment tax’s popularity has grown – and grown bipartisan. And both sides are citing former President Donald Trump – just as we did in September.
“The Bipartisan Climate Solution:
“Momentum is building on both sides of the aisle to come up with a measure to penalize imports of high polluting goods, and lawmakers are taking a page out of former President Donald Trump’s book….
“‘It looks and feels a lot like Trump’s tariffs…’ Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said.
“Republicans are eager to tackle competition with China, whose lax environmental standards often mean lower production prices, and create an ‘America-first’ climate policy. ‘Donald Trump should love it,’ (Republican) Sen. Kevin Cramer said.”
“The Bipartisan Climate Solution” — announcing the broad bipartisan support for a border carbon tax — was published at 10 am on February 18. By Matthew Choi — in Politico. Siegel’s employer. In its “Morning Energy” newsletter — Siegel’s beat.
Siegel however, was awakened at 9.46AM that same morning. Tweeted:
“Graham is an exception among Republicans on the issue, telling me: ‘A border adjusted carbon tax? You can count me in. That’s basically a tariff on polluters.’”
But Graham isn’t “an exception.” Per Siegel’s own publication. Which quotes Republican North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer effusively praising the notion as part of a “momentum…building on both sides of the aisle.”
Like ships that pass in the mornings, Siegel & Choi look to be walking by one another in the Politico Energy hallway — and not share their work.
It was funny to me. Frailty is a human trait.
By February 24, Siegel appears to have been made privy to Choi’s work.
Congress Is Eyeing a Bipartisan Climate Trade Policy – Thanks to Trump:
“Trump advanced a combative trade policy that wielded tariffs as a weapon, opening the door for Republicans to consider a protectionist trade policy linked to addressing climate change….
“Republicans and Democrats are working together on plans to penalize imports of high-polluting goods, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress that could insert climate change policy into U.S. trade rules….
“(L)awmakers are taking a new look at so-called border carbon adjustment fees, which would be tacked onto products from foreign companies whose carbon emissions are higher than those of their U.S. competitors.
“Those products are often cheaper to make abroad because of weak pollution regulations — giving them an economic advantage over more climate-friendly U.S.-based manufacturers of products such as steel.”
The PoliticoNonsensical self-contradictory foolishness aside: It is important that we do not allow foreign companies to compete with our local manufacturers.
It was because we have been allowing it over the past 50 years. It decimated and hollowed our country.
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