Retirees association objects to climate bill

The Retired Public Employees Association, representing the interests of nearly 500,000 state and local government retirees, objects to the June 24 editorial “A ticking climate clock” about the Climate and Community Investment Act. This is not the best way to reduce carbon emissions, especially because it would tax the use of energy that retirees depend on for their health, safety and quality of life: gasoline and fuel for cooking and heating their homes.

New York has some of the highest gas taxes in the country. Retirees live on fixed incomes. They cannot afford to pay another estimated 55 cents per gallon of gas and 26 percent for heating fuel. Many retirees have health conditions that require a warm house in the winter. The expense of converting to renewable energy is not an option.

It’s unconscionable to penalize retirees for driving to buy groceries, pick up life-saving prescriptions, visit family and friends and heat their homes — activities that are not major contributors to carbon emissions.

Most of the tax revenue would not be used to combat climate change directly but for social programs. Rebates for low- and moderate-income residents would give the same tax money back that they’ve already paid. This makes no sense.

The Retired Public Employees Association supports environmental protection; however, the Legislature should tax the sources of carbon emissions: industries and businesses that do not do their part to reduce their use of fossil fuels. Diana Hinchcliff

Troy President, Retired Public

Employees Association