Senators Need to Hear From You About Climate Change Legislation

Negotiations are still underway between Senators Kerry (D-Mass.), Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Graham (R-S.C.) on legislation intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They intend to release the legislation on Monday; however, that time line could be moved back. One of the final issues to be resolved is how to deal with transportation. Discussions have been on-going the past several days about imposing a fee on petroleum that would be passed on to consumers. The so-called "linked-fee" on motor fuels would likely increase the cost of gasoline by approximately 15 cents per gallon.  The Senators drafting the bill seem to be backing away from the "linked fee" concept because it has been portrayed as a gas tax. However, they intend to have a carbon pricing mechanism for transportation.  AGC and other stakeholders have been visiting Senate offices urging that any revenue from additional fees on transportation motor fuels be directed into the Highway Trust Fund. Please contact your senators to make the same point. AGC is concerned that should a fee be imposed and not directed to the Highway Trust Fund it would undermine efforts to increase trust fund revenues necessary to fund the transportation reauthorization legislation. Contact your senators through AGC's Legislative Action Center by clicking here