Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carbon Tax

Grover Norquist Buckles to Pressure From Koch-Backed Group on Carbon Tax

Some readers took issue with yesterday's post that characterized a carbon tax as a terrific but politically unlikely proposal, after the Obama administration shot down the idea last week. Putting a price on carbon emissions is, after all, generating renewed interest from across the ideological spectrum. Notably, the libertarian American Enterprise Institute is co-sponsoring a forum on the issue today with the left-leaning Brookings Institution, Resources for the Future, and the IMF.

false

And yesterday, Grover Norquist told the National Journal that the blood oath he extracted from a majority of members of Congress not to raise taxes wouldn't be violated by a carbon tax -- if it was accompanied by lower income taxes.

(Here's the list of pledge signers in the current Congess [PDF] but here's a tip: It's quicker just to look at what Republicans didn't sign -- just 13 of them -- and what Democrats did -- just three. The numbers are lower in the next Congress, as politicians increasingly campaigned against the idea of making a pledge to Grover Norquist, instead of their constituents.)

Norquist only opened the door a crack, however. “It’s a conversation about what color unicorn you’d like,” he said of discussions about how to structure an income-for-carbon tax swap. “It would infuriate taxpayers."

Apparently it also infuriated the American Energy Alliance -- the political arm of the Institute for Energy Research, a think tank devoted to the promotion of fossil fuel development that's funded in part by the ultra-right Koch brothers and their donor network.

“Grover, just butch it up and oppose this lousy idea directly," AEA wrote in their daily newsletter today. "This word-smithing is giving us all headaches.” (Note: I don't regularly read the AEA's daily newsletter, so a hat tip goes out to ThinkProgress for breaking this news.)

If "butch it up" means "kow-tow to your benefactors," then yes, "Grover" did just that, within hours. His group, Americans for Tax Reform, has now unequivocally stated its opposition to a carbon tax and promised to "work tirelessly to ensure one does not become law."

Well, that's a quick turnaround from saying that it wasn't a bad idea.

Apparently a carbon tax is verboten now that the Koch brothers don't like it. The Americans for Tax Reform statement calls it "big government" that will "forever damage the American economy" and "inevitably lead to higher taxes." Norquist himself said, "there is no conceivable way" that such a tax wouldn't violate his sacrosanct anti-tax pledge. Those statements directly contradict his assertion to the National Journal: "It’s possible you could structure something that wasn’t an increase and didn’t violate the pledge.”

The Obama administration has stated that, despite rumors circulated by British bankers, it was not planning to introduce a carbon tax. That assurance isn't enough, however, for another Koch-funded think tank, the Competitive Enterprise Institute. CEI is suing the government to gain access to emails, just to make sure the Obama administration is serious about failing to take the single most effective step to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Why Did Secretary Duffy Decimate University Transportation Centers?

University Transportation Centers are "where innovation happens." Earlier this month, though, the Trump administration took a sledgehammer to their budgets.

May 20, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Share the Love Edition

Citi Bike's workers are backing Brad Lander for mayor while their bosses at Lyft chip in on Andrew Cuomo's PAC. Plus more news.

May 20, 2025

Day 1: Criminal Court Judge Issues Safety Lectures to Cyclists, Including Citi Bike Celeb

A Manhattan Judge used the bench to give "a talking to" to suspected cyclists — including one of the Citibikeboys!

DOT Proposing A 14th Street-Style Busway For 34th Street

It's the sequel you've been waiting for. Here's hoping Mayor Adams delivers, said one activist.

May 19, 2025

Sohn in Albany: State Bill to Force Drivers to Pass Safely Stalls

Apparently, New York City is just too unsafe for legislation forbidding drivers to pass cyclists too closely.

May 19, 2025
See all posts
OSZAR »