Associated Press - May 25, 2009 8:04 PM ET

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Members of Idaho's delegation in Washington, D.C. are leery of federal legislation that would cap carbon dioxide emissions and allow industries to trade permits that allow them to pollute with greenhouse gases.

U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, a Democrat, favored such a plan before he was elected in November but says he's growing skeptical on concern such a "cap & trade" scheme could boost costs for Idaho residents during a recession.

Minnick told the Idaho Statesman "it will spawn a big bureaucracy and is susceptive to manipulation and misuse."

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bill last week to give 85% of the permits to industry - mostly to electric utilities, followed by energy-intensive manufacturers, carmakers and natural-gas distributors - until 2030.

That could leave utility rates little changed, but car owners facing higher costs because the oil industry would get very few permits.

Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.