President Biden’s $3.5 trillion budget proposal contains $275 billion to support clean energy and climate friendly technologies, a beginning that might safeguard our grandchildren’s lives. However, Congress will soon be cutting back these measures. The Republican leadership says we cannot afford these climate change measures, but they support continuing to give the fossil fuel industry a $20 billion tax break every year! During the past 50 years, American taxpayers have given the fossil fuel industry $275 billion many times over, even though this is the most wealthy industry the world has ever known.

This is the power of campaign donations corrupting our government, rewarding the very industry that is ruining the planet that our children will live in. Soon, the fossil fuel industry’s and the Republican party’s efforts to stop progress on climate change will be seen as a terrible crime against our children and against all life on Earth.

So now is not the time for cutting back climate friendly investment. And we also need to put a price on carbon emissions, charging a fee at the well or mine, and returning that money to American citizens (the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act). This would make fossil fuels too expensive and thereby speed the transition to renewable energy, while also giving us the money to afford the energy we need.

The Republican Party will try to quietly cut back such measures in committee meetings during the coming weeks. Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree, and Sens. Angus King and  Susan Collins, we are counting on you to protect our grandchildren’s lives.

And Maine citizens, we need to let our representatives know what is important to us.

Richard Thomas

Waterville