Earlier this year, legislators voted to withdraw from RGGI, an energy tax that masquerades as a pollution-reduction measure. Gov. John Lynch vetoed the bill. Today, senators vote whether to override that veto. They should. And they can look to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for a reason why.

Christie announced this year that he wants to pull New Jersey out of RGGI. Last month he vetoed a Democratic bill to forbid him from doing that. Christie is no global-warming skeptic. He’s just practical.

“While I acknowledge that the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are increasing, that climate change is real, that human activity plays a role in these changes and that these changes are impacting our state, I simply disagree that RGGI is an effective mechanism for addressing global warming,” Christie said.

It isn’t. What it does is tax energy consumers and give that money to states for redistribution. Though the money is supposed to be used for “green” energy projects, it has found its way into state coffers to balance state budgets.

RGGI supporters say New Hampshire will still pay RGGI costs if we pull out of the deal. Not if other states follow us and New Jersey and the pact collapses.