Republican Group Condemns 'Energy Tax' Legislation
House members speak out against energy plan.
Compiled by staff
Published: May 20, 2009
On Tuesday 16 Republican members of the U.S. House, all members of the Rural America Solutions Group, spoke out against the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Choosing to call it "the Democrats' national energy tax on rural America," they said the bill would disproportionately spike rural American energy bills, harm agriculture production and threaten small businesses. The co-chairs of group are Representatives Frank Lucas, R-Okla., Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Doc Hastings, R-Wash.
Lucas pointed out the bill mentions agriculture six times and not in any substantive way. Yet, the impact of this bill on production agriculture and rural economies will be huge.
"Nothing scares me more than having higher energy taxes placed on my community," said Graves. "These job creators are doing everything they can to stay afloat during this recession, let's not cause them further heartache."
Hastings says Democrats in Congress are pushing a high-priced gourmet energy bill featuring a new national energy tax that will spike rural Americans' energy costs. He said rural Americans want cleaner air, cleaner water and a better environment, but they can't afford this bill.
Republicans support an all-of-the-above energy plan that includes renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and greater use of nuclear power, along with creating more American-made oil and natural gas.
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