Congressman John Dingell dished out his plan for pain -- taxes and more taxes that he claims will stop global warming.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092602127_pf.html

He wants to raise the federal gasoline tax from 18.4 cents to 68.4 cents over the next five years. Additionally, the 21.9 cents per gallon tax on jet fuel would be raised to 71.9 cents a gallon--over five years.

Then he wants to charge power plants $50 a ton for all the carbon dioxide they put into the air. Power companies would have to shell out 125 billion dollars a year just for that.

Even stipulating the thought that CO2 is the reason for global warming -- which I don't think is a real problem -- what part of the Constitution can Dingell cite that authorizes the feds to take this kind of control?

I'll tell you -- none.

What special program to reduce global warming is all this "new money" going to go for? I'll tell you -- none. The gas taxes are going into mass transit and road construction (but aren't people supposed to drive less?) and the cabon tax money is going to go to -- wait for it -- healthcare! Plus he wants to raise the Earned Income Tax (I say Welfare) credit and the Low Income Energy Assistance Program to compensate people for the higher costs. How nice of him.

So if these tax rates go up, you need to do your civic duty and buy more gasoline, use more electricity. If you don't, we won't be able to have Big Governement keeping everyone well.

Buy an SUV to save the planet!