What’s in a dark of night amendment–energy bill version
Jul 2nd, 2009 by David Anderson
Does the federal government have a right to pressure you were to live (location efficient mortgages) or force energy audits of homes that you sell? A comment on a post said the President’s new light bulb regulations would require an energy audit before a home sale. The good news is that I can not find evidence to support that. The bad news is that it is in the Waxman bill.
The federal government has no constitutional authority to govern home sales. It only would conceivably have power over homes on the border of two states.
That is just the start. The bill also regulates that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will give energy efficient and “location efficient” mortgage underwriting. Those guys did so well in other areas. It also establishes Green Banking centers.
It federalizes building codes. 10th amendment, what 10th amendment?
Don’t worry if you don’t have the money to retro fit your residence or business, the government has a seed program that will be placed under the control of local and state governments to loan you the money to do it. That’s right the government will make you do something and then if you do not have the cash setting around, charge you interest. I bet that was not in the CBO cost estimate.
The worst is in the out years. Most of the costs do not kick in until after 2020. The ag state democrats looked at it an rebelled. The trick was to hope that you could swallow some of the poison now and then won’t remember who was responsible for the rest 12 years down the road when it requires the shrinking of our economy. Unless there is some miracle in technology, there is a requirement that we cut use of most current sources of energy which means shrinking the economy.
July 4, let’s make a bee line to Senator Carper and his colleagues and tell him that we don’t want this dictatorial regime. I would love to see a sign or two at the parades. This July 4 is one that we not only need to celebrate our independence, but fight for our economic independence.
Perhaps Carper may be more receptive to citizen pressure than Mike Castle. But don’t count on it.
It was for good reason that we called our three men in Washington the Three Stooges.
The federal government has no constitutional authority to govern home sales.
Well, I can’t find the text you claim is in the bill, but I’ll go out on a limb and guess they are requiring pre-sale audits only for Freddie/Fannie conforming loans.
In this case we are NOT governing home sales; we (hey, let’s drop this “they” crap, it is “We The People”) – WE are governing the terms under which we will buy mortgages from your bank.
Just like you have to get a home inspection, a radon inspection, a termite inspection, flood insurance, earthquake resistant construction – and now you also need to have an energy audit.
Home energy efficiency is in the national interest. If you are getting Federally backed financing you need to meet Federal requirements. If you think it is a state issue, then let the states bail out the banks.
If you don’t like it you can always go get a nonconforming mortgage, or pay cash for your house. Then you can illuminate your house with used crankcase oil for all the Feds care.
I agree with you that we have inspections. The requirement is a state and private one. The state requires termite inspections, the banks require flood insurance, and local building codes deal with earthquakes. Don’t you see the difference? This bill will federalize building codes.
This bill will federalize building codes.
Local building codes related to energy efficiency have proved to be a resounding failure. It is time to try something else.
The Feds are backing up your mortgage and sending our sons and daughters to fight for oil fields and sea lanes. Sorry, we aren’t going to let you blow our blood and treasure out your windows and exhaust pipes any more.
“If you don’t like it you can always go get a nonconforming mortgage, or pay cash for your house”
unless too many people do, then the commissars will re-write the banking rules to close that “loop hole”
noman, if your house is more than 10 years old, you can expect to spend a sizable chunk of you equity to meet the Obama standard when you try to sell.
no more poor young families buying fixer-uppers.
“Local building codes related to energy efficiency have proved to be a resounding failure. It is time to try something else. ”
Bullshit. you know knothing about construction.
“The Feds are backing up your mortgage”
WRONG Freddie and Fannie don’t “back” mortgages, they buy them to improve liquidity in the mortgage system.
(I realize that facts are wasted on a Obamaton)
I bet that wasn’t in the mitigating costs in the CBO study, annoni. The CBO estimated $770 a person but assumed that some loans and tax cuts would lower the cost impact to about $175 which is still around $700 per family of 4. These benefits will not be evenly distributed. There will be winners and losers. Even the Pew Center acknowledges that. Of course the market is cruel to make changes based upon need, but the government is kind to make them based upon fiat.
if your house is more than 10 years old, you can expect to spend a sizable chunk of you equity to meet the Obama standard
I already lost a sizable chunk of my equity under the Bush standard, and the energy problems still got worse. I’m ready for Change.
And by the way, I don’t believe you. You are peddling the same Chicken Little crap Republicans always peddle when efficiency standards are upgraded. It never comes true.
Really, It came true with the Clean Air Act and tax hike of 1990. We ended up with a recession. It came true with the Japanese trying to limit Carbon consumption. They had the lost decade. It is just that you never pay attention.
David – those are some pretty limp counterexamples. Try again.
“The Feds are backing up your mortgage”
WRONG…
annoni – Are you seriously arguing Federal money isn’t backing mortgages?
I am seriously agruing that you don’t know crap about construction, building codes, mortgage banking or real estate. You are for “Cap & Trade” because The Dear Leader is for it.
Part of ‘Cap and Trade’ is encouraging commerce in those ‘Environmental Indulgences’ being pushed by Al Gore and Company.
The last big orgy of indulgence-pushing begat something called a “Reformation” and a new one may be in the making.
Wait until those energy bills come in.