Western governors offer greenhouse emissions plan

By BRAD CAIN , Associated Press Writer, Space & Earth science / Environment

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, shakes hands with Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez, during a water rally held at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 23, 2008. More than 500 farm workers and their families rallied to call for the Legislature to approve a measure to place of a $9.3 billion water bond measure on the November ballot to build reservoirs, encourage conservation and restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

(AP) -- Seven Western states are joining four Canadian provinces to propose a plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions through use of a "cap and trade" system.

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Posted by Modernmystic 07/24/08 10:39

Rank: 3.5/5 after 6 votes

And this kind of scheme will work here, despite the fact that it's an abject failure in Europe....riiiight.

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Posted by wfl 07/24/08 13:02

Rank: 3.4/5 after 8 votes

What is a few hundred billion dollars if it makes politicians and enviro nut cases feel good?

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Posted by GrayMouser 07/24/08 15:31

Rank: 3.7/5 after 6 votes

The states are not allowed, under the Constitution, to enter in to agreements between themselves. Much less agreements with foreign states.

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Posted by Excalibur 07/25/08 18:11

Rank: 2/5 after 4 votes

The states are not allowed, under the Constitution, to enter in to agreements between themselves. Much less agreements with foreign states.

Citation(s) required.

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Posted by GrayMouser 07/26/08 21:45

Rank: 5/5 after 2 votes

For Excalibur, there are 2 places:
Article I, Section 8, paragraph 3: "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;"

Article I Section 10, paragraphs 1 & 3: "No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay."

Section 8 could be (and has been) construed as allowing the Federal government to regulate the individual states. In this I think they are on shaky ground (because of the 10th Admenment.)

Section 10 is much clearer. "No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation" and "No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, ..., enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power".

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Posted by Excalibur 07/28/08 19:55

Rank: 1/5 after 2 votes

Section 8, aka the Commerce clause, ALLOWS of Federal regulation of INTERSTATE TRADE; and, it does NOT DISALLOW State regulation of such.

Section 10 says "without the Consent of Congress;" and, many such "consents" have been granted, as witnessed by the existence of States' National Guards, various DMV compacts, etc.. The Constitution fails to set forth either the time, mode or form by which such consent shall be granted, with the effect that, absent it's expression to the contrary, most such "consents" are inferred from such inaction.