Yes, I agree that climate change is real. Tens of thousands of years ago, Saco was covered by an ice sheet. Millions of years ago, Saco was covered by the ocean and dinosaurs roamed the Arctic Circle. I was raised in the Bayview area of Saco since the 60’s. The rock outcropping that I played on as a kid still appears as far away from the beach today as it did then.
Climate change is real but the rate of change and causes are still being debated. As representative, I would refuse to inflict harsh economic hardships on Maine’s most vulnerable people for the sake of theories from so called experts. One hardship I plan to oppose is the $0.40 per gallon carbon taxes on gasoline and heating oil Governor Mill’s administration is considering.
This will cause a tremendous transfer of wealth from our most vulnerable citizens (elderly & working poor) to our most wealthy. Many will profit off so-called green energy projects this tax money is earmarked for. Many of Maine’s most vulnerable citizens can only afford to live in energy-inefficient homes and drive older fuel-inefficient vehicles to get needed services or work.
I look forward to the day when electricity will be abundant, inexpensive, and produced with minimal environmental impact. This will bring in a transportation revolution like the one we had when internal combustion engines replaced horses. That previous revolution was not driven by a government program but by market forces. Make electricity cheap, and people will voluntarily convert to all-electric homes and cars.