Fox News Talking Monkey and Mental Midget Kilmeade Falsely Says Cap-and-Trade Will Raise Unemployment

By Media Matters

Teasing an interview with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on the June 26 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade asked of the cap-and-trade legislation currently being debated in Congress: "[C]ould it, in fact, double the unemployment numbers? House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer joins us next hour. We'll see if he can explain the numbers." Kilmeade did not provide any evidence that the bill would double the unemployment rate, and the Fox & Friends co-hosts did not return to the issue during the interview with Hoyer. However, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of the bill -- which co-host Steve Doocy referenced during the Hoyer interview -- stated that "any aggregate change in unemployment would be small compared with the normal rate of job turnover in the economy."

From the CBO analysis:

CBO expects total employment to be only modestly affected by a cap-and-trade program to reduce GHG emissions. Except during cyclical downturns such as the current recession, most individuals who seek employment are able to find jobs, and a cap-and-trade program would not greatly diminish that ability. Some regions and industries would experience substantially higher rates of unemployment and job turnover as the program became increasingly stringent. That transition could be particularly difficult for individuals employed in those industries (such as the coal industry) or living in those regions (such as Appalachia). However, any aggregate change in unemployment would be small compared with the normal rate of job turnover in the economy.

From the June 26 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

KILMEADE: Have you heard of the climate change bill? Do you care? Well, you should. Some say it's just another way to get more money from taxpayers. And could it, in fact, double the unemployment numbers? House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer joins us next hour. We'll see if he can explain the numbers, and if they have the numbers in the House to pass it....

(Remainder.)