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hatrack

(59,585 posts)
Mon Jul 1, 2019, 08:30 AM Jul 2019

Carbon Dividend Plan Loved By GOP (George Shultz, James Baker) Hires Ex-Boeing Lobbyist

Americans for Carbon Dividends has brought on a new senior official to beef up its push for a carbon tax. Steve Rice started this month as a managing director at the group, which is the advocacy arm of the Climate Leadership Council, a business- and Republican-backed project backing a tax on carbon dioxide emissions that would be refunded to taxpayers that was authored by former Republican Cabinet officials James Baker and George Shultz.

Rice worked most recently as director of political mobilization at Boeing Co. and previously at public affairs firms DDC and Mercury Public Affairs. Greg Bertelsen, executive vice president for both climate groups, said Rice will help hone their advocacy efforts.

"We are now expanding our work outside of the Beltway, to build support across the country for the Baker-Schulz carbon dividend plan," Bertelsen said. "Steve has been running political and issue advocacy campaigns for the last two decades. He is absolutely one of the best in the business."

Bertelsen said upcoming advocacy will include polling, media appearances and paid advertising, among other efforts. The "carbon dividend" plan has support from many corporations, including Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Unilever, BP PLC and Ford Motor Co. The plan calls for a carbon tax starting at $40 per ton and increasing from there, with money going back to taxpayers regularly. But it would also shield oil companies and other emitters from potential legal liability for their greenhouse gas emissions.

EDIT

https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/06/28/stories/1060668473

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