Editorial: Climate and conservatives

From the Editorial Board, The Baltimore Sun, July 30, 2012

When political conservatives start talking about raising taxes, it’s wise to pay attention. Such is the case with a recently-announced campaign by a former South Carolina congressman who believes solving the nation’s energy and climate change challenges requires a tax on carbon.

The goal of the Energy and Enterprise Initiative, according to Robert “Bob” Inglis Sr., a six-term congressman who lost reelection in a 2010 GOP primary (his support for the 2008 federal bank bailout having hurt him with the tea party movement), is to explore and promote conservative solutions to U.S. energy needs and to climate change. That he even accepts the need to address man-made global warming sets him apart from many of his peers.

But Mr. Inglis is above all else pragmatic. He believes the free market can address both those issues far better than government regulators. As GOP economists have often pointed out, government should tax those things it wants less of and reduce taxes on those things it considers desirable…

Click to read the full editorial at baltimoresun.com