Cow Tax Ban Gaining Support

Beef state lawmakers vow to fight EPA plan
April 21st, 2009

A handful of U.S. senators have cosponsored legislation to block a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to regulate greenhouse gas emissions – including emissions from cattle – as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The legislation would prevent the regulation from adversely affecting livestock producers by amending the Clean Air Act to preclude regulation of naturally occurring livestock emissions, including methane and carbon dioxide.


The bill is cosponsored by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).


“This would have a devastating impact on livestock producers because cattle emit methane, one of the gases the EPA proposes to regulate,” said Johanns. “The steep tax that would result is commonly referred to as the ‘cow tax.’ ” Read More



The bill in Congress to prohibit a cow tax is gaining more support in the Senate. Some in Congress have scoffed at the idea that we even need this bill. They claim that a tax on livestock emissions could never happen. Maybe that is true, but I’m not willing to bet the farm on it. With all of the anti-meat propaganda out there that claim livestock are responsible for environmental degradation and climate change, passage of this bill would lay many fears to rest.