The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s largest advocacy organizatoin for small businesses, has joined the National Association of Manufacturers in sponsoring the comprehensive advertising campaign about Waxman-Markey now under way in 13 states. NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner explains:

We’re very concerned about the impact of the legislation on small businesses. America’s job creators are struggling enough in this economy and don’t need additional burdens. Small business owners are not able to adjust the price of their goods and services quickly enough to match potentially steep energy cost increases without hurting their customer base. The Waxman-Markey bill would significantly raise energy-related costs and lead to considerable job losses.

Here’s the TV spot that focuses on the damage the cap-and-trade regime will do to businesses and workers.

The initial stage of the campaign reaches the public in Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. With the House having already passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, AKA Waxman-Markey, the ads encourage the public to communicate with the Senators who will next consider cap-and-trade legislation.

BTW, the ads posted at YouTube are the ones meant for Indiana (and cosponsored by the Indiana Manufacturers Association — thanks!), but they are fundamentally the same spots in the other dozen states.

Advocates of federal regulation, taxation and vilification of carbon dioxide have been raising their outrage to even higher levels than usual, horrified that energy companies and employees, business associations, free-market advocates and citizens have been involved in organizing protests against Waxman-Markey.

It’s fake outrage, though. By pointing fingers at the process of organizing, they’re trying to divert attention from the substance of the citizen activism — that Waxman-Markey will destroy jobs, retard economic growth, and make the United States even more dependent on foreign energy.

After all, if they were sincerely offended by these organizational efforts, they wouldn’t be doing things like hiring “progressive activists” in Arlington, Va., Fargo, N.D., and Bozeman, Mont., at $90 a day to: “Join the historical effort to reform our country’s energy policy. Work to lobby Congress to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Delay is not an option!”

We’re outraged, OUTRAGED! These paid activists are spreading LIES!

Because, after all, delay is actually an option. And so is defeat.

(Hat tip: SayAnythingBlog.)

Definitely a moving target. The full 946-page substitute amendment of the American Clean Energy and Security Act is available here.

And markup starts….NOW!

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), two House committee chairmen, unveiled what they are calling their “discussion draft” on cap-and-trade legislation, that is, the energy tax and rationing bill.

They are certainly on message, the “jobs” message, that is. From the news release, “Chairmen Waxman, Markey Release Discussion Draft Of New Clean Energy Legislation“:

“This legislation will create millions of clean energy jobs, put America on the path to energy independence, and cut global warming pollution.” said Chairman Waxman. “Our goal is to strengthen our economy by making America the world leader in new clean energy and energy efficiency technologies.”

“This legislation will create clean energy jobs that can’t be shipped overseas, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and make America the global leader in energy technology. We will create jobs by the millions, save money by the billions, and unleash energy investment by the trillions,” said Chairman Markey, who held many hearings on the major issues in the bill. “Chairman Waxman and I will work with our colleagues to ensure that we are protecting American consumers and that our clean energy future helps all parts of the country.”

Hurricane Katrina created lots of jobs, too, albeit having first destroyed tens of thousands of them.

As for creating jobs — which we’re assuming includes jobs in the private sector — are the two chairmen persuasive bearers of the message? Rep. Markey was elected to Congress in 1976. Rep. Waxman was first elected in 1974 (although that date is not in his official bio). Sixty-six years of Congress between them.

More details on the legislation…

For commentary from the free-market, pro-economic growth side of the debate, we recommend the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s experts. Myron Ebell mentions jobs, too:

Representatives Waxman and Markey’s draft bill would raise energy prices through the roof and hurt poorer Americans the most.  It would destroy tens of millions of good-paying jobs.  Beyond these enormous economic costs, Waxman-Markey would put big government in charge of how much energy people can use.  It would be the biggest government intervention in people’s lives since the Second World War, which was the last time people had to have rationing coupons in order to buy a gallon of gas.