Thread by @RL_Miller

as promised to @drvox, short thread on politics of letter signed by 27 economists advocating a carbon tax. Letter 1st published in WSJ (paywalled) and written up in WaPo, among others. wapo.st/2FEtz6M

@drvox and as you can see from WaPo headline even if you don't click thru, central premise is that a carbon tax "is not controversial." But that's false for two reasons. I'll tag this #27Economists.

@drvox First, the #27Economists letter deliberately omits a key part of the plan -- a waiver of Exxon's liability for covering up what it knew about climate change back in the 1970s. #ExxonKnew

@drvox To connect dots, #27Economists letter was written by Climate Leadership Council. @TheCLCouncil. The plan: bit.ly/2FDLmLo "Robust carbon fees would also make possible protecting companies from federal and state tort liability for historic emissions." #ExxonKnew

@drvox @TheCLCouncil and the Climate Leadership Council has been backed by Exxon, to the tune of $1M, among others.

@drvox @TheCLCouncil ya gotta admire Exxon's business acumen here. Investing $1M in a plan that would allow it to escape untold billions or trillions in tort liability is smart. #27Economists

@drvox @TheCLCouncil But me, I sorta wonder why a Get Out Of Jail Free card for Exxon was deliberately omitted from the #27Economists letter?

Maybe because they know the public wouldn't agree? #ExxonKnew

@drvox @TheCLCouncil Which brings me to my second point re #27Economists. I think it's cute how the VSPs are suddenly all getting behind a carbon tax/ Exxon liability waiver at the exact same time that @AOC's #GreenNewDeal is picking up political steam.

@drvox @TheCLCouncil @AOC Almost like the Washington elite (and the Exxon executives) are seriously worried about a 70 percent marginal tax rate more than they're worried about the untold human suffering of climate change. #27economists

@drvox @TheCLCouncil @AOC maybe you don't think this deliberate public deception is cute. Maybe it just stiffens your resolve for a #GreenNewDeal. #27Economists

@drvox @TheCLCouncil @AOC Me, I'm just gonna call BS when I see it. And that means, Climate Leadership Council, acknowledging that your plan will give Exxon a Get Out Of Jail Free card in the next WSJ op ed/ glowing @axios writeup, (pssst @AmyAHarder)