HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 24

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Tim D. Lewis

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO WITHDRAW NEW MEXICO FROM THE WESTERN CLIMATE INITIATIVE.

     WHEREAS, there has been no credible economic analysis of the costs associated with carbon reduction mandates and the consequential effect of the increasing costs of doing business in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, forcing business, industry and food producers to reduce carbon emissions through government mandates and cap and trade policies under consideration for the regional climate initiative will increase the cost of doing business, push companies to do business with other states or nations and increase consumer costs for electricity, fuel and food; and

     WHEREAS, carbon reduction mandates in New Mexico will put the state in an economic disadvantage to states without carbon reduction mandates; and

     WHEREAS, the congressional budget office warns that the cost of cap and trade policies will be borne by consumers and will place a disproportionately high burden on poorer families; and

     WHEREAS, simply reducing carbon emissions in New Mexico will not have a significant impact on international carbon reduction, especially while countries like China, Russia, Mexico and India emit an ever-increasing amount of carbon into the atmosphere; and

     WHEREAS, a tremendous amount of economic growth would be sacrificed for a reduction in carbon emissions that would have no appreciable impact on global concentrations of carbon dioxide; and

     WHEREAS, no state or nation has enhanced economic opportunities for its citizens or increased gross domestic product through cap and trade or other carbon reduction policies; and

     WHEREAS, Europe's cap and trade system has been undermined by political favoritism and accounting tricks and has failed to achieve the carbon reduction targets; and

     WHEREAS, California and New Mexico are the only states in the western climate initiative to adopt cap and trade or other carbon reduction rules;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to withdraw New Mexico from the western climate initiative; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.

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