Todd Gitlin, via Hilzoy, has picked up on a rather sticky environmental problem for John McCain: he seems a bit confused about the nature of carbon emissions cap and trade programs–a problem, since he claims to support one. Cap-and-trade regimes enforce a gradual, but mandatory, cap on carbon emissions levels while setting up a market system to allow polluters to trade for the right to spew from companies who have figured out how to lower their emissions levels.
This presents a real ideological challenge for Republicans on two grounds. They hate mandates and they hate taxes. As Obama has routinely acknowledged, the costs of reducing emissions will be passed along to consumers. He has proposed rebates for the working poor, so the hit won’t be confiscatory. McCain hasn’t quite acknowledged that you can’t support carbon emissions reductions without also supporting higher energy prices. It will be interesting to see where he finally lands on this issue.