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Grassley skeptical of climate change bill

Senator Charles Grassley says he would vote against the House version of climate change legislation. And even though much of the policy to be included in a Senate climate change bill is under development, the Iowa Republican is skeptical.”It’s going to be very detrimental to the economy of the United States if we pass a bill and the other countries of the world don’t follow along,” said Grassley Tuesday, in a conference call to farm reporters, “and I have my doubts if they will follow along.”

AUDIO: Sen. Charles Grassley (3 min. MP3)

Grassley says he’d prefer that the objectives be accomplished via international agreement so China is bound to the same commitments as the United States. To do otherwise, he says, would put U.S. energy consumers at a disadvantage.

“Every time a consumer in Iowa turns on their light switch they’re going to be paying a tax that they don’t pay today, all at the same time that the United States is supposed to show leadership,” Grassley said, “but if the rest of the world doesn’t go along, then we’re going to be kind of an Uncle Sucker.”

Grassley says what he refers to as stiff fees on energy resulting from cap and trade will force U.S. manufacturing jobs to China if China isn’t part of an international climate change agreement.