HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Democrats’ National Energy Tax is a Job-Killer

The Obama Administration is christening next week as “energy week,” where it will unload all its political firepower on Capitol Hill in an attempt to pass Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s new national energy tax which would raise taxes on every American family and small business by up to $3,100 a year.  Politico reported yesterday that: “The White House plans to dispatch Cabinet officials to push the administration’s energy agenda and urge Congress to pass climate legislation currently under siege from skeptical Democrats in the House.”

Some of those skeptical Democrats - which Politico reported stands at “roughly 50″ - have broken ranks with Speaker Pelosi and President Obama by questioning the need for imposing a national energy tax.  Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), the chairman of the House Agriculture committee “has questioned whether there is enough data to support the need for cap-and-trade legislation,” according to a New York Times story published yesterday and has stated in the past that: “In my district, a ‘no’ vote would be a good vote.”

Even White House Budget Director Peter Orszag stated in 2007 that a national energy tax would be a job-killer: “Job losses could occur throughout the economy but would probably be especially large in industries associated with high-carbon fuels.”

The Democrats are ready to impose new punitive taxes on the American middle class and small businesses - the very engine of the American economy - at time when we continue to see job losses and rising unemployment.  Just this morning, “The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose slightly…suggesting that while job losses have moderated since the beginning of the year, a rapid turnaround in labor-market conditions is unlikely,” the Wall Street Journal reported.  And the Journal noted in another story that: “Personal income fell in 37 states in the first quarter.”  (See related chart below from the New York Times)

  

Since the beginning of this year, nearly two million Americans have lost their jobs, and the only response from Democrats in Washington is to penalize the American middle class and subsidize irresponsible behavior.  At time when the American middle class is taking it on the chin - from job losses to bank bailouts, auto bailouts, and global bailouts - the Democrats’ national energy tax adds insult to injury. 

The American people deserve better.  The government should be fostering economic growth, not stifling it with a new national energy tax.  Unfortunately, Democrats seem deaf to the concerns of middle class Americans.

Permalink |

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 2:15 pm and is filed under Cap and Trade. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “Democrats’ National Energy Tax is a Job-Killer”

1. Lee McFetridge Says:
   June 19th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

   To whom it may concern:
   The idea of a cap and trade tax is enough to make anyone ill that isn’t in the upper 1% of the income bracket.
   For those who live in the rural countryside or farmers it will be a disaster. We are taxed to death in this country and more tax on top of the ones that we already have is ludicrous.
   The folks who live in the upper northern part of our country will be forced to decide weather to buy food or fuel. Someone must be asked to see how crazy all these taxes are and see that more taxes on anything, especially fuel products is very bad.
   Lee McFetridge Stanley NY

2. WDBJ-TV Refuses To Run Republican TV Ad Filled With Lies « Truelogic’s Weblog Says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 pm

   […] leader� Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) posted on his website that the clean energy bill will cost “$3,100 a year,” then modified that number to “$3,000 per household per […]

3. Some media taking their job seriously « Later On Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm

   […] leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) posted on his website that the clean energy bill will cost “$3,100 a year,” then modified that number to “$3,000 per household per […]

4. Media outlet refuses to run GOP’s TV ad filled with falsehoods on clean energy bill | Climate Vine Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 9:46 pm

   […] leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) posted on his website that the clean energy bill will cost “$3,100 a year,” then modified that number to “$3,000 per household per […]

5. Media Outlet Refuses To Run Republican TV Ad Filled With Misrepresentations Of Clean Energy Bill | Pure Politics Says:
   July 4th, 2009 at 4:22 am

   […] leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) posted on his website that the clean energy bill will cost “$3,100 a year,” then modified that number to “$3,000 per household per […]

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

---