Costly cap and trade.

WE SAID IN THE SEPT. 7 ISSUE Arkansas Business that cap d trade makes no sense. Figures released last week support our position.

Officials at the Treasury Department think cap and trade legislation would cost taxpayers hundreds of billion in taxes, according to internal documents circulated within the agency and released after a Freedom of Information Act request from the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

The American Clean Energy Security Act, which narrowly passed in the House of Representatives and included a cap and trade provision, would cost U.S. taxpayers about $200 billion. That translates to $1,761 per household.

Cap and trade will face a lot of opposition in the Senate when that body takes up its version of the legislation this fall--as well it should.

We continue to think that cap and trade would cripple the economy of the United States while having little impact on climate change. That's especially true if rapidly developing nations hoping to raise their standard of living choose to ignore anything that would slow their growing industries

Some might argue that cap and trade would affect only those industries that are exceeding a certain level of emissions. But do you really think those industries won't pass along the increased costs to consumers?