There are many troublesome areas but I will mention just one for the sake of space: Section 432 of the bill begins on page 830 that details an "Energy Refund Program for Low Income Consumers." Essentially, what that means is that any family with a gross income of less than 150 percent of the poverty line would receive a cash refund each and every month, direct-deposited into the bank account of their choosing.
The bill is a redistribution of income. Cash will be given to poor families. The text states:
SEC. 432. ENERGY REFUND PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS.
(a) ENERGY REFUND PROGRAM.—
(1) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or the agency designated by the Administrator shall formulate and administer the ‘‘Energy Refund Program’’.
(2) At the request of the State agency, eligible low-income households within the State shall receive a monthly cash energy refund equal to the estimated
loss in purchasing power resulting from this Act.
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—
(1) ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS.—Participation in the Energy Refund Program shall be limited to a household that—
(A) the State agency determines to be participating in
(i) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program authorized by the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
(ii) the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations authorized by section 4(b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)); or
(iii) the program for nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico or American
Samoa under section 19 of the such Act (7 U.S.C. 2028);
(B) has gross income that does not exceed 150 percent of the poverty line; or
(C) consists of a single individual or a married couple and (i) receives the subsidy de23 scribed in section 1860D–14 of the Social Secu rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114); or (ii)(I) participates in the program under section XVIII of the Social Security Act; and (II) meets the income requirements described in section 1860D–
3(a)(1) or (a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114(a)(1) or (a)(2)).
(c) MONTHLY ENERGY REFUND AMOUNT.—
(1) MONTHLY ENERGY REFUND.—The monthly refund under this subsection for households of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 or more members shall be equal to the maximum energy tax credit amount calculated under section 36B(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for each household size, divided by 12 and rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.
(2) MONTHLY ELIGIBILITY.—A household shall not be eligible for the refund under this section for months that the household has not established eligibility under subsection (b).
(d) DELIVERY MECHANISM.—
(1) Subject to standards and an implementation schedule set by the Administrator, the energy refund shall be provided in monthly installments via—
(A) direct deposit into the eligible household’s designated bank account;
(B) the State’s electronic benefit transfer system; or
(C) another Federal or State mechanism, if such a mechanism is approved by the Administrator.
The bill is a parody of science as well. Kimberley A. Strassel of the Wall Street Journal makes salient points against the central points of the bill.
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