University of Missouri system president Gary Forsee’s letter opposing federal legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions is still attracting attention several weeks after it was released to the media.
Paul Sloca, the spokesman for U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, circulated Forsee’s letter to media outlets earlier this month. Sloca said in the e-mail that Luetkemeyer had received the letter from Forsee. The letter came out against “Cap and Trade” legislation, which in a nutshell would cap the amount of carbon emissions an entity could produce. If that company or service wants to go over that amount, they would have to buy credits from entities that produce less pollution.
Luetkemeyer, a first-term lawmaker, voted against “Cap and Trade” legislation when it came through the U.S. House in June.
In the letter, Forsee says the bill as proposed would have a “detrimental impact” on the four-campus UM system, which includes the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“The proposed cap and trade model will significantly increase the energy expenditures for all four of our campuses,” Forsee wrote, noting that the bills could increase electricity and power costs for the four-campus system. “Given the impact of such unsustainable increases on the University’s already hard-pressed budget, we urge you to oppose these bills or ensure specific exemptions are included.”
The letter garnered praise from some right-of-center politicians and luminaries. Rich Chrismer, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt’s U.S. Senate campaign, sent out a statement saying that Forsee was correct in saying the bill “would hurt the university, just as it would hurt Missouri families by costing them thousands of dollars in higher energy bills.” Rush Limbaugh, the popular conservative radio host, praised Forsee for his stance against Cap and Trade on his show last week:
“This is a gutsy move for Gary Forsee to make, because colleges all over the country basically beg for money,” Limbaugh said. “They beg for money. Even if they’ve got a successful football program they’re out there begging for money, and who do you beg for money from? Members of Congress. Yet Forsee is putting his university and the state (and even the country) ahead of what might otherwise be a personal pursuit to go out and make a deal to get some money here. This is a really gutsy and courageous move. “
But Forsee’s letter has rankled supporters of “Cap and Trade.” Fired Up! Missouri, a political site critical of Missouri Republican politicians and policies, made several posts criticizing Forsee’s letter. The first noted that Forsee signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Committment. The other pointed out that Forsee is a board member of a holding company that owns Kansas City Power and Light and questioned whether the statement amounted to a conflict of interest.
The debate may be rhetorical for now. Even though “Cap and Trade” passed the House in June, the legislation is effectively stalled in the U.S. Senate.
(This post was updated at 2:11 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 30)
Tags: blaine luetkemeyer, cap and trade, fired up! missouri, gary forsee, roy blunt, University of MissouriCategories: Business.
Conflict of interest? Biggest joke going. Cap & tax supporters never question the biggest conflict of interest offender, Al Gore! Gore has more conflict of interest issues than anyone who has ever walked the earth.
True to their nature, cap & taxers don’t believe “their” people can be conflicted, only those who oppose their terrible scheme of taxing America and making our economy even worse than it is today.
Yeah, Bearden. Gore has more conflicts than you do. Thats why he makes his donations to groups in the open, and you don’t make the people who fund you public. Thats why he’s so bad, and your so good.
Give me a break
[...] MU President Gary Forsee has the daunting challenge of running the four campuses in the MU system during a time of decreasing state revenues and budget shortfalls. In light of this budget crisis, he is right to oppose the proposed cap and trade legislation. It will significantly raise energy costs and unless China, India, Japan and other industrialized countries take similar actions, it will actually increase greenhouse gas emissions. That is precisely why the United States Senate, in 1997, voted 95-0 not to enact global warming legislation that burdened our economy unless other nations did the same. [...]