Download CCL Monthly Conference Call, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 Groups meet

CCL Monthly Conference Call, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014
Groups meet at 9:45am PT/12:45pm ET
The international conference call starts at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET
The conference call part of the meeting is a little over an hour long and the groups meet
for another hour after that to take and plan actions.
Call-in number: 1-866-642-1665, passcode: 440699#
Callers outside U.S. and Canada, please use Skype: 719-387-8317, passcode 440699#
Jan. 11, 1 p.m. EDT, 10 a.m. PDT: Guest is
Adele Morris of the Brookings Institution
Adele Morris is a fellow and policy director for Climate and
Energy Economics at the Brookings Institution. Her expertise
and interests include the economics of policies related to
climate change, energy, natural resources, and public
finance. She joined Brookings in July 2008 from the Joint
Economic Committee (JEC) of the U.S. Congress, where she
spent a year as a Senior Economist covering energy and
climate issues. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton
University, an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Utah, and a B.A. from Rice
University.
Actions
1. After reviewing the CCL National Framework for 2014…
A. Make plans and set goals for your group in 2014
B. Have members decide individual goals for 2014
2. Send a comment to the Senate Finance Committee about the Energy Tax Reform
proposal.
ACTION
Make plans and set goals for your group in 2014
As an organization, CCL has set the goal of enacting a revenue-neutral fee on carbon
in 2015 (sooner, if possible). We have developed a national framework for achieving
that goal. In the context of that framework, we would like our groups and members
to make plans and set goals that contribute to that framework, ultimately achieving
our goal of enacting effective climate legislation.
At your meetings this month:




Review the CCL National Framework for 2014 (see below).
Using the national framework as a guide, turn to the 2014 group planning
summary form to discuss and agree upon your group’s goals and actions for
2014.
After agreeing on group goals for 2014, turn to the individual planning sheet
and decide which actions you’ll take in the coming year.
If time allows, let members share the action or goal that they are most
excited about.
Resources:




CCL National Framework for 2014 (below)
Group planning form (download here)
Individual planning form (download here)
Group statistics for 2014 (Group leader will have)
A CCL National Framework for 2014
Traditionally, every January we take time to do chapter and individual planning. This year
we would like to embed that planning process in a wider context: What do we have to do as
an organization to pass our legislation? The following framework is meant to set the stage
for our local plans—to show us what we are building toward together. Just as a single LTE
builds toward a stunning media presence nationally, our local actions are jointly building
the political will to pass a bill. A single lobby meeting, when combined with others
nationally, results in CCL holding more lobby meetings than any other environmental group,
even those with large paid staffs.
Goal: Congress enacts a revenue-neutral fee on carbon in 2015.
Background: 2014 is an election year, which makes it unlikely that Congress will take up
carbon fee and dividend legislation during campaign season. While keeping that in mind
and prioritizing the building of our capacity to pass legislation in 2015, the campaign season
offers us the opportunity to build relationships with candidates, bring resolutions on
climate change to local party conventions, and increase constituent pressure for
Congressional action on climate change through participation in campaign events. We do
have some Republicans ready to sponsor a bill when the time is right, but 2013 was not the
right time. We do not want their names public for now. We need to support our current
MOC allies and develop more supporters.
Where we are now: In the spring of 2013 CCL volunteers and interns researched every
member of Congress and assigned them a rank of ABCD based on their support for a carbon
tax. The chart shows the rankings by party affiliation. The rankings are an approximation of
our situation—MOCs may have shifted since spring and our research may not have been
perfect.
CCL Ranking
A
B
C
D
no ranking
House
Republican
160
70
2
1
2
House
Democrat
1
12
136
48
3
Senate
Republican
24
14
3
2
2
Senate
Democrat
1
5
35
11
1
Senate
Indep.
1
1
A: Skeptical of the science and not supportive of legislation that will impact the fossil fuel industry
B: Concedes there may be an issue with climate change but is against carbon-tax legislation for political
reasons
C: Potentially supportive but is yet to co-sponsor a bill
D: Has co-sponsored legislation on reducing emissions and addressing climate change
To pass a bill requires 218 yes votes out of 435 in the House and 60 out of 100 in the Senate
(to end a filibuster). We need to move that many into the D category.
Clearly it will be harder to shift A’s to D than C’s—but moving an MOC down the scale, even
partially, can help reduce opposition.
Operational Areas: To accomplish this we have 3 “levers of political will:”
1) Lobbying—an active liaison and lobby team for every MOC.
2) Media—relationships with editors and reporters, and a large presence on the
opinion pages.
3) Outreach—to constituents and key community groups. This form of outreach is
aimed at growing a body of supporters that are outside our groups. Some of them
may become part of CCL but many will not.
We can’t work the levers without volunteers to do the work, so we also need…
4) Development—a chapter in every congressional district by the end of 2014, and a
special emphasis on the members of key committees such as House Ways and
Means and Senate Finance. This requires outreach to increase the number of CCL
chapters and the number of active members within existing chapters.
2014 is a congressional election year so we also need to understand and play a role during
campaign season.
5) Campaign season activities--CCL is non-partisan, and committed to working with
whoever is in Congress. We can use the campaign season to educate the public and
the candidates about climate change and solutions.
CCL national goals for 2014:










A chapter in every congressional district
Volunteer state coordinators in states with 10 or more MOCs
Paid regional coordinators
A liaison for every member of Congress who makes contact with that office at least
quarterly
A relationship with all 100 of the largest papers in the U.S. and many other smaller
papers
Double our LTEs, opeds and editorials in 2014
By the end of the year Members of Congress are receiving at least 50 constituent
letters/postcards each month about climate change.
Broaden the demographics of our membership base, especially to include more
conservatives
Introduce resolutions on carbon fee and dividend to local party conventions
Create partnerships between CCL groups in the DC region and other CCL groups to
coordinate regular drop-offs in DC offices of materials such as LTEs and op eds
generated by CCL constituents.
Chapter/volunteer Activities: CCL is a volunteer-driven organization. We will accomplish
our goals with the active participation of our most important resource—our volunteers.
Below are some of the activities that should take place in 2014 to build political will.
A) Lobbying.
For each MOC, we need a constituent liaison who builds a relationship with the MOC and
aides, provides timely, appropriate, trustworthy information, maintains research on the
MOC’s position and interests, and brings to the conversation the best messengers and
information to reach the MOC. In places where we don’t have a constituent available, a nonconstituent could take on the liaison role and work to find a constituent replacement
(ideally by developing a chapter) to replace him/herself.
1) Relationship: schedules, plans and carries out meetings with the MOC and key
aides. Continues useful contact in between meetings.
2) Information: researches and keeps up to date MOC bio and district info,
identifies and locates information persuasive to the MOC.
3) Primary Messengers: Constituents—MOC receives lots of constituent
letters/contact.
4) Other messengers: Faith, business, labor, farm, major donor, community leaders,
local party activists, local elected officials, other important messengers—
identify who the key messengers are for your MOC/district and bring some to
communicate with the MOC.
B) Media: Relationship with editors, steady presence on the opinion pages, use of other
media. How many of the 100 largest papers can we have ready to support a carbon
tax when it comes up in Congress? How many smaller papers will weigh in? How do
we double our editorials, op eds and LTEs in 2014? How do we increase our
presence in the broadcast media?
C) Outreach:
1) Constituents—how many letters/postcards to Congress can we generate in
2014? If 200 chapters each average 10 per month that’s 24,000 handwritten
letters. CCL members can write that many. We can generate more by
incorporating letter writing into many more outreach events, such as CCL
presentations and tables. We can take our letter writing to
friends/families/neighbors/coworkers by holding regular letter writing
parties.
2) Set up meetings with key messengers in the community such local political
leaders, faith, business and key community groups in support of our
proposal.
3) Bring on board organizational partners who can also lend support as we
near a vote in Congress, such as the League of Women Voters, local
Chambers of Congress, Rotary Clubs and environmental organizations.
D) Development.
1) Your own chapter—how can it become stronger?
2) Nearby areas without a chapter—can you send presenters to local groups,
and reach out to organizations and individuals there? What part of your
state is strategically most important?
3) Nationwide outreach—who do you know who would make a good CCLer
somewhere else, how can you open doors for local organizers?
E) Campaigns: We can ask questions, make statements, participate in and hold
candidate forums, meet with and provide information to candidates. We will not
participate in attacks on anyone. We can participate in the development of party
platforms by introducing resolutions on carbon fee and dividend.
Group and individual planning.
What part will you and your chapter play in building the political will in 2014 and achieving
our national goals? (Use forms to record your plans.)
ACTION
Comment on Energy Tax Reform proposal
The Senate Finance Committee is seeking comments on energy tax reform. One specific
point in the proposal concerns a carbon tax:
“The staff discussion draft proposes two tax credits for clean energy production. An
alternative would be to discourage energy production that is not clean. Comments
are requested on the overall merits of approaching energy policy through a subsidy
for clean technologies versus a tax or fee on heavy polluting technologies or air
pollution. Additional comments are requested on how to design such a tax or fee
so that it would not harm trade-exposed and energy-intensive industries, and would
not disproportionately harm low-income households.”
This is a great opportunity to take the first step in moving Congress toward enacting a
revenue-neutral carbon tax. At the very least, our actions could open the door for a hearing
that invites carbon tax proponents and perhaps CCL to testify.
At your meeting this month, designate one member who will commit to sending
comments to the Senate Finance Committee. Other members of your group are encouraged
to write, as well.
Submit your comment as to why a carbon tax or fee is preferable to subsidies, and why the
CCL approach is the best one to [email protected] by Jan 31. Mention
that you are a member of CCL. Make the comment your own. Though we have provided
rationale and arguments here, feel free to add, subtract, and fill in as you see fit so it is an
accurate representation of your voice, and your thoughts!
Possible talking points








Our carbon tax is more consistent with the aims of the proposal with lower cost
and bureaucracy.
A tax is easier to link to science-based climate realities instead of arbitrary 25%
reduction on the current state.
Costs the federal government virtually nothing (administrative costs estimated at
a fraction of a percent.)
Easier to harmonize with other nations.
Less bureaucracy since it can piggy-back off existing infrastructure for tax
collection.
Less paperwork for businesses.
Creates the incentive for business to invest in infrastructure, which the subsidy
can't do.
Speed of implementation (tax incentives wouldn't come online until 2017!)
Resources
Baucus, M. (2013, December 18). Summary of Staff Discussion Draft: Energy Tax Reform.
Washington Post editorial: Clean energy should do without special tax breaks