Rabe suggests carbon tax less vulnerable to court challenge than other climate initiatives

“We are going to have to be thinking of any bill, can it pass constitutional muster,” Rabe said during an October 15 Brookings Institution event. According to the Inside EPA/Climate article, he suggested tax policies are relatively impervious to court scrutiny and argued a carbon tax is less vulnerable in court than other possible climate initiatives.

“Governments can tax, governments can spend . . . courts really don’t go there,” Rabe added.

Read the full Inside EPA/Climate article here. 

Faculty Expert

Barry Rabe

J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Professor of Public Policy

Rabe examines the political feasibility and durability of environmental and energy policy, with a particular emphasis on efforts to address climate change in the U.S. and other federal systems. His most recent books examine the politics of carbon pricing and the limitations of unilateral executive branch policy actions. Current research explores the politics of intensive but short-lived greenhouse gases, such as methane and HFCs. Recent policy engagement includes work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

• Domestic policy
• energy and environmental policy
• energy and environment
• Economics and finance
• carbon tax
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Brookings Institution
• Democracy and Debate
• Barry G. Rabe
• Barry Rabe
• Inside EPA