To the Editor:

Richard Gilbert’s letter (“He disputes letter writer’s ridicule of cap-and-trade,” Friday, July 10) praising cap-and-trade legislation is conveniently leaving out important details about what the bill promises to do.

While the Wall Street Journal and Congressional Budget Office believe that the bill grossly underestimates the cost of the bill to taxpayers, other groups believe that every American household will see cost increases between $100 and $140 a year. This does not even begin to address the other costs that stem from operation of vehicles, which API states could force gas prices to rise above $4 per gallon in today’s costs by 2035.

Other world leaders, though supporting the bill, do so grudgingly because the bill is too watered down to really accomplish anything.

Even many Democrats in Congress voted against the bill because it doesn’t accomplish the reduction levels already in place in Europe.

Fifteen Republican amendments to the bill that protect taxpayers against high costs have been rejected, including provisions to cancel the law if gas prices exceed $5 per gallon or if unemployment rates reach 15 percent nationally. This clearly shows us that Congress cares about looking good to the cameras and not about the costs that you and I end up paying. And for what? A marginal decrease that doesn’t even come close to standards in place by the European Union?

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds refuses to take a stand on cap-and-trade, despite the fact that his own legislative district employs more than 1,500 workers in a plant that will be directly affected by this bill. His opponent, Bob McDonnell, wisely opposes cap-and-trade.

To me, cap-and-trade is a typical Washington ploy to make it look like liberals want to act on emissions but really accomplishes little while raising costs and taxes on the rest of us. Call U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner and urge them to vote no.

Dave Lyons

Smithfield