And yeah, we have been held hostage and in parts of the country people were paying $5 a gallon for gas. But of course if you weren’t I guess it didn’t happen. We started talking about energy independence in the 70’s. Bush in one of his State of the Union messages talked about hydrogen powered cars and nothing significant has happened in a long time.

As for the fear mongering I do believe it was you who started it with the fines that are coming.

And I love your liberal talking points. We’ll all be “hostages” and paying $5 for fuel if we don’t accept this legislation. Not!

Now who’s fear mongering?

Yes, let’s oppose all the legislation to make our country more energy efficient and stay the hostages of the oil rich countries. Let’s have $5.00 a gallon gas since we all have great jobs and can afford it.

No Sage, I’m not making shit up. This is the same way the federal lawmakers have legislated federal road funding to extort the states to enact laws to comply.

This bill seems innocuous enough, but there are some huge loopholes to turn it into something else.

And explain to me why, if they only want this to affect NEW homes, they don’t explicitly state it, anywhere, in the bill? No, instead they say if any of a series of trigger events occur, existing homes will be labeled as well. Why, if it applies to NEW structures only?

Original text:

6) PROGRESS REPORT- The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall provide a progress report to Congress not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act that–

(A) evaluates the effectiveness of efforts to advance use of the model labeling program by States and localities;

(B) recommends any legislative changes necessary to broaden the use of the model labeling program; and

(C) identifies any changes to broaden the use of the model labeling program that the Administrator has made or intends to make that do not require additional legislative authority.

4) STATE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM-

(A) ELIGIBILITY- A State may become eligible to utilize allowance value to implement this program by–

(i) adopting by statute or regulation a requirement that buildings be assessed and labeled, consistent with the labeling requirements of the program established under this section; or

(ii) adopting a plan to implement a model labeling program consistent with this section within one year of enactment of this Act, including the establishment of that program within 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and demonstrating continuous progress under that plan.

So you’re just reading a bunch of stuff into that bill that isn’t there. Nothing about making homeowners capitulate and make improvements to meet the requirement.

How does the state meet the federal goals in order to get the funding? They fine homeowners until the homeowners capitulate and make improvements to meet the requirement.

Federal highway funds are managed the same way. In the past, if the states did not comply to the 55mph speed limit, they lost federal highway funds. The result? Every state I’m aware of eventually adopted the 55mph limit to get the funds. This is the same with HOV lanes, which are actually a bigger waste in many ways.

Sections 3 and 4, include “retrofits”, “renovations”, “new lien”, “sale”, and “change of ownership” of the utility bill as triggers for establishing the label. Yes, this is a consumer rating like Energy Star, but it is also a means to fine homeowners for non-compliance.

The states will be incentivised enact, just like they lowered speed limits, legislation to fine homeowners for “deficiencies” in their ability to meet the federal efficiency objectives. Homeowners can choose to pay fines, or comply with efficiency improvements in order for the state to meet the federal requirements for funding.

Nice and tidy. Federal government has no accountability for mandating upgrades on homeowners, and Waxman isn’t lying.