Congressman Davis Refuses to Support Democrats’ National Energy Tax
Washington,
Jun 26 -
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Geoff Davis voted against legislation that would impose a national energy tax on middle-class families, farmers, the elderly and small businesses both in Kentucky and across the nation. H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, passed the House by a vote of 219 to 212.
Congressman Davis stated, “America needs a comprehensive energy plan, not a national energy tax. For more than a year, local, State and federal officials have stressed the need for government policies that create jobs. Not only does this cap and trade proposal fail to create jobs when Americans need them most, it will result in negative job growth. Manufacturers will be forced to move their plants to countries with cheaper energy and lower taxes, hurting American workers and the environment.
“At the end of the day, this bill is nothing more than the economic colonization of the heartland States by States like New York and California to subsidize their social programs. This legislation is not just about energy; it has become about confiscating wealth. I cast my vote today on behalf of the thousands of Kentuckians who deserve better than this legislation. America needs a better energy bill that will not drive millions of American jobs to foreign countries or cost our families and businesses millions of dollars that they simply do not have in this economy.”
Kentucky’s unemployment rate stands at 10.6 percent. According to the non-profit Heritage Foundation, H.R. 2454 could cause more than four thousand jobs to be lost in the Fourth District alone in 2012. In all of Kentucky, the legislation would cost nearly 22,000 jobs that year. Nationwide, one independent analysis by the National Black Chamber of Commerce and Charles River Associates International suggested 2.3 to 2.7 million jobs would be lost each year for the next twenty years.
H.R. 2454 was introduced by House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) on May 15, 2009. Just days before the House voted on the bill, the legislation text grew from 946 pages to 1,201 pages. It was accompanied by a 743-page committee report. The final text of the bill was not released until 3:09 a.m. the morning of June 26, 2009.
More than two hundred amendments were offered by both Republicans and Democrats in an attempt to improve the legislation and craft a better solution for America. Unfortunately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed only one amendment to be debated in the House today.
H.R. 2454 was opposed by multiple local and national organizations, including:
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce sent a letter this week to the Kentucky delegation asking that no vote is cast in favor of this legislation until the impact of this bill is understood. Read their letter here.
To read more of Congressman Davis’ thoughts on this legislation, energy and our economy, visit his energy issue page. On Tuesday, June 30, Congressman Davis will release his weekly column that will discuss H.R. 2454 in more detail.
Watch Congressman Davis speak out against H.R. 2454 just hours before the House voted on the legislation.
