Editor,

As I read state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg’s guest commentary covering the economic impacts of a national carbon tax, especially how it’ll affect rural or poor communities, I wondered — why is Sonnenberg presenting inaccurate, incomplete information? I found that the Colorado Union of Taxpayers named Sonnenberg a “Taxpayer Guardian.” A guardian is good. If he’s a taxpayer guardian, he should give taxpayers complete information so they can make well-informed decisions.Then I remembered a friend of mine who was convinced by conservative talk radio that climate change was a hoax. When my friend noticed inconsistencies in statements on air and in print, he researched climate change. From his readings, he realized that there was no doubt about climate change, and that some organizations were purposefully misleading unsuspecting conservatives.

My friend read non-stop about climate change, politics and policy. He became an advocate for national carbon taxes.

I’ll point out a couple of the many things that were misleading in Sonnenberg’s article.

A carbon tax will only have “harmful economic consequences, especially for Colorado’s rural and lower-income communities,” if Congress writes careless legislation without adequate input from Colorado’s senators and representatives. The better informed the public is, the more they can urge U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and U.S. Rep. Ken Buck to negotiate legislation that helps their communities.

Well-written legislation will require fossil fuel companies pay the tax, and require that revenue collected be distributed equally to all households. Economic studies show that paying the revenue equally to all households shields low and middle income communities from adverse effects.

Some carbon tax proposals suggest revenue be used to cut capital gains taxes, but this doesn’t shield low-income families. Cutting payroll taxes also doesn’t protect these households enough.

Many carbon tax advocates want some tax revenue to help coal communities. Coal companies are failing because natural gas is cheaper, soon solar will be cheaper, and coal mining and coal burning cause illnesses and death. Without a carbon tax, coal communities will continue to decline and suffer. Why not support a national carbon tax and require that revenue help coal communities?

Do like my friend: Read about it yourself. Carbon tax seminars are regularly held for Congress teaching how to economically protect individuals, and boost the economy. The details are on-line.

Ask Sonnenberg to read these sources, and invite the experts who teach Congress to speak to your community. You deserve the full story.

Rabbi Judy WeissCitizens’ Climate LobbyBrookline, Massachusetts