Does Cap And Trade Pose Threat To Oklahoma Business?

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Healthcare is getting all of the headlines lately, but there's another bill making its way through Congress that's generating nearly as much controversy.

Cap and trade is a government plan to reduce pollution that some Oklahoma business owners worry is just another tax to force them out of business.

Twenty-five employees looked to Tulsa-based APSCO for their paycheck.

"We manufacture air controls, air cylinders and valves," said APSCO owner Larry Mocha.

Larry Mocha's father started the company in 1964. For 45 years, the Mocha family has guided the business through the ups and downs of the economy.

"It's difficult to be able to survive in business today, so why isn't government trying to help us how to figure out how to do it better?" Mocha asked.

Mocha's latest concern is cap and trade, a government plan to cap emissions and allow companies to trade or put emission credits in a bank for future use. If a company emits more than its allowed it could face a fine.

A study sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers says Oklahoma would lose 20,000 jobs by the year 2030 if cap and trade were passed.

"What's going to happen if they put that kind of a imposition on American business, we're going to sub-out business to China we can't do here because of the increased regulatory burdens and the increased taxes," said Larry Mocha, owner of APSCO.

"It's still a step in the right direction because, for the first time ever in our history, we're going to put a price on polluting the atmosphere," said economist Mickey Hepner.

Economist Mickey Hepner questions the job loss estimate. He say Oklahoma would actually benefit from cap and trade because it would force manufacturers to look to natural gas, a thriving industry in the state.

"You can't really say cap and trade would be bad for Oklahoma's economy," Hepner said.       

Mocha wishes Congress would focus less on taxing industry and more on giving him the chance to bring in new employees.

"I wish the government would help me create an environment where I can hire more guys like this," Mocha said.

Legislative hearings on the cap and trade bill are scheduled to begin on October 27th.