Cool, brisk breezes grounded their hot air balloon, but it didn't ground the message from organizers of Americans for Prosperity's Hot Air Tour.

At the political rally Wednesday, organizers urged South Dakota delegates to vote no on the cap-and-trade carbon regulation legislation, currently being debated by Congress.

Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips said the Washington-based group began its tour 18 months ago to join grassroots organizations across America to raise awareness about the energy reform package. At each stop, the group raises a hot air balloon, but weather conditions in Rapid City prevented that from happening. But that didn't stop Phillips from making his point.

"When Congress comes back into session, they're going to vote on cap-and-trade. Sen. (Tim) Johnson will be one of the key votes if it passes," he said.

Phillips said, if passed, it will adversely affect family businesses, cause substantial job losses and create the "biggest tax increase in history."

Advocates of the energy reform packages being pushed by President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said climate change is real, and reform is needed soon. But Phillips called it "global warming alarmism."

"The real emitter of hot air is Al Gore," Phillips said of the former vice president, who introduced rapid climate change and global warming in his 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."

The House bill would require a 17 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 and an 83 percent reduction by 2050. Those mandates are the total "cap" in a system that would allow emission permits or allowances to be traded or sold between utilities companies and other entities responsible for such emissions.

"That means our utility bills will increase by 20 to 60 percent. When you ration energy, the price goes up," Price said. "Coal gets hit the hardest."

Gasoline will rocket to nearly $7 a gallon, he said, which would drive up the cost of food production, causing reduction in work force. "We could lose a million jobs out of this," he said.

"When you have government encroaching into our lives for their ideology, it is a loss of freedom," Phillips added.

Gordon Howie, state senator from District 30 and president of Citizens for Liberty, grew up having a bad taste for bullies.

"Our government isn't the problem, it's the bullies running it," he said.

Howie wanted to send a message to city, county, and federal government all wanting to increase taxes.

"Let's cut spending," he said.

Richard Hoff of Rapid City agreed.

"Our problem is not so much with our president. Our problem is with our Congress. They don't even know what they're voting for," Hoff said.

He pointed out that the state has been entertaining ideas of a gas tax, the county will raise taxes by 3.5 percent, while the city may approve a 3 percent hike. Meanwhile, the downtown area is looking at a tax increment district, business improvement tax and Destination Rapid City.

"That's six new taxes that are going to hit us in the future," he said. "Government is going to dictate our very breath."

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com