State Legislatures Revolt Against Speaker Pelosi's New National Energy Tax

VWV Note: Are the people beginning to wake up? Will more states stand up for their citizens against the cap and trade tax? Just saw this on John Boehner's site and felt encouraged. Something I think we could all use right about now.

As gasoline prices continue to climb – rising “for the 48th straight day,” according to the Associated Press – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is sticking to her vow that Congressional Democrats will give top priority this summer to enacting a new job-killing national energy tax. And across the nation, states are beginning to rise up in opposition to the Speaker’s misguided “cap-and-tax” proposal, with a number of state legislatures passing resolutions warning Washington not to pass such a proposal. Many states fear misguided “cap-and-tax” legislation will raise energy costs for families and small businesses, increase costs on goods manufactured and sold in the U.S., and put American jobs at risk – and in resolutions and letters, they’re joining Congressional Republicans in sounding the alarm. Some examples:


Alabama Joint Resolution 109 – “[A]ny system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not eliminate American jobs and diminish the ability of American industry to compete in the global marketplace… [A]ny system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not add to the already high costs of power and gasoline;” (May 15, 2009)

Indiana Senate Resolution 76 – “Any system to regulate greenhouse gases must ensure that the adopted regime does not result in the off-shoring of international trade-sensitive industries;… Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not eliminate American jobs and diminish the ability of American industry to compete in the global marketplace.” (April 24, 2009)

Louisiana Senate Resolution 91 – “Be it resolved that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States to address the issue of global climate change through the adoption of a fair and effective approach that safeguards American jobs, ensures affordable energy for citizens, and maintains America’s global competitiveness.” (June 9, 2009)

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 584 – “[Be] it resolved… we do hereby urge the United States Congress to … (a) safeguard American jobs; (b) ensure affordable energy for American citizens and industry; (c) offer incentives for efficient practices and technologies; (d) prevent ‘emissions leakage’; and (e) maintain the global competitiveness of American industry.” (March 16, 2009)

South Carolina House Resolution 3508 – “Be it resolved by the South Carolina House of Representatives: That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, memorialize the United States Congress to address the issue of global climate change through the adoption of a fair and effective approach that safeguards American jobs, ensure affordable energy for citizens, and maintains America’s global competitiveness.” (March 3, 2009)

Tennessee House Joint Resolution 323 – “Be it resolved… that it is the sense of the Tennessee General Assembly that the State of Tennessee should only combat global climate change and reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses if and only if such a plan for doing so were structured in a manner to (1) promote American jobs; (2) avoid imposing higher energy prices on American families and industry; (3) reward early adopters of efficient practices and technologies; (4) monitor and prevent ‘emissions leakage’; and (4) champion and ensure the continued global competitiveness of American industry.” (June 8, 2009)

Letter from Members of the Illinois General Assembly – “Any system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions must not eliminate American jobs and diminish the ability of American industry to compete in the global marketplace… [C]limate change policy must not add to the already high costs of power and gasoline.”

Letter from Members of the North Carolina General Assembly – “[T]he regulation of greenhouse gas emissions must not add to the already high costs of power and gasoline… [A]ny proposal to address global climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions must be structured in a way that safeguards American jobs, ensures affordable energy for American citizens and industry, offers incentives for efficient practices and technologies, prevents ‘emissions leakage’ and maintains the global competitiveness of the American industry.” (March 18, 2009)

Letter from Members of the Virginia General Assembly – “[We] urge the Members of our Congressional Delegation, when considering any system for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, to support fair and effective measures that safeguard American jobs, ensure affordable energy for citizens, and maintain America’s global competitiveness.” (February 16, 2009)

Recognizing that the best solutions often come from outside the Beltway, Reps. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Mike Rogers (R-MI) joined with Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) earlier this year in launching the GOP State Solutions project. The goals of the project are to increase coordination among reform-minded Republican Members of Congress, governors, and state legislators; highlight the better solutions Republicans are offering at all levels of government; and educate Americans about the impact misguided Washington proposals such as Speaker Pelosi’s new national energy tax will have on states and local communities.

For more information on the State Solutions project, visit the State Solutions website at http://states.gopleader.gov/.