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Suncoast Pasco News

Letters to the editor, Oct. 24

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From our readers

Published: October 24, 2009

Updated: 10/27/2009 07:22 am

Lost sovereignty

Editor:

It is my understanding that President Barack Obama will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. I have read that the president will sign a treaty without seeking a two-thirds ratification of the treaty by the Senate, or any other type of Congressional approval. I read that most of the world will sign it. It is my understanding that this treaty will bring the United States into a position of submission to the rest of the world and bring us more than ever under the control of the U.N.

It is also my understanding that this treaty will create a transfer of wealth from the United States to other countries in what is called a "climate debt." It is as if we haven't transferred enough of our wealth to other countries through our insane borrowing, which enabled bank executives to stock up their gold holdings.

And it is my understanding that this treaty will give permission to the U.N. to enforce this treaty, thereby giving over sovereignty as well as our wealth. I would like to know the position of our representatives in Washington, D.C., on this treaty and what exactly they intend to do about it.

Richard Maxwell

New Port Richey

Hollow pledge

Editor:

We got a double whammy on Oct. 16. First, the Florida Public Service Commission voted 3 to 1, with Commissioner Nancy Argenziano voting no, to increase our electric rates.

Second, The Palm Beach Post ran a story that identified the two culprits who changed the law in 2006, that allowed the power companies to charge us, in advance, for the pre-construction costs for their nuclear power plants. Plants that may, or may not, ever be built. The article stated that Sen. Jeff Atwater "added the provision to a sweeping energy bill in the Ways and Means Committee in the last days of the 2006 legislative session." According to his spokesman, Atwater, now the Senate president, offered the amendment as a courtesy to the bill's sponsor, Sen. Lee Constantine, who was not on the Committee."

The Post article, however, said Constantine asserts he never intended to allow utilities to start collecting before the plants were fully approved or already under construction. He has now called for a re-evaluation of the law but that rings hollow. A bill filed last year that would do just that died in a committee Constantine chairs.

We should "follow the money" and see where these lawmakers get their political contributions.

Suzan Franks

Hernando

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