August 19, 2009

Mr. Stan and Ann Moffat

3333 East 68th

Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074

Dear Mr. Moffat,

Thank you for your email regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454). Rest assured I strongly oppose H.R. 2454, and I appreciate you taking the time to share how this legislation will impact small business and farming.

Climate change legislation represents a major loss of liberty, and a vast expansion of the federal government. It would concentrate power and authority in the Administrator of the EPA and related climate change boards based in Washington, DC, in what would amount to the most dramatic shift towards centralized economic planning in our history. Assuming the most conservative estimate, the system proposed in the last Congress would have transferred $7 trillion into the hands of the Administrator of the EPA, who would have immediately assumed a position of tremendous influence in our economy.

I am gravely concerned with the direction and leadership of our country in general. Our government continues to expand - wielding more power and proposing more arbitrary regulations on business and individuals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in particular often poses an enormous threat to our basic freedoms, especially in regards to its authority to regulate "greenhouse gases." EPA's increasing thirst for arbitrary regulatory authority in the name of saving the environment is growing at an exponential pace and must be stopped.

The economic well-being of Americans and the well-being of our environment are tied together; policies that do not recognize this fact are neither sustainable nor effective. The policies we create today establish a precedence that will continue to impact our lives and economy, thus it is imperative that we consider real science as we continue to debate environment issues.

We must do everything we can to protect our natural environment, but we must make sure these policies are actually necessary, effective, and within our constitutional authority. Cap and trade legislation will place an unbearable financial burden on consumers (much as it has in Europe) all based on a theory that is far from settled. While it is important to reduce harmful pollutants, it is not prudent to create far-reaching measures without scientific data that fully proves the dangers of global warming, especially if they have potentially disastrous economic consequences.

Though the debate on global climate change still rages on, the tide of sensationalistic global warming theories is actually beginning to turn as many scientists have spoken out against these scare tactics. In fact, many reports have claimed global cooling may be a greater concern. Although environmental extremists continue to claim imminent consequences if we do not quickly impose regulations, I am confident that science will disprove the idea that we must suffocate carbon-based industries.

Rest assured, under no circumstance will I support such a vast overreach of the federal government.

Thank you for sharing your concerns with me. Please stay in touch.

Sincerely, A

Tom A. Coburn, M.D.

United States Senator