Washington, D.C., - U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., ranking Republican on the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, issued the following statement on the release of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009:
“Once again, Democratic lawmakers are pushing a green agenda that stands to put the people of Wisconsin in the red.
“With the release of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 -- nicknamed ‘ACES’ -- Democratic leaders in the House will claim that this scheme will clean the air, create jobs and lower your energy bills.
“In truth, ACES isn’t the winning card that the dealers claim. They say this carbon-trading scheme will improve the economy, but I call it cap-and-tax for a reason: it takes money from the taxpayers and gives it to government to dole out to special interests, both here and overseas. With the current government intervention into the auto and financial industries, isn’t it time to get the government out of the free market?
“Studies conducted last year on a similar bill showed that Wisconsin would be hit hard by cap-and-tax.
“The price of gasoline in Wisconsin could rise by 141 percent, while the electric bill might surge by as much as 177 percent, according to a study by the National Association of Manufacturers. This study said Wisconsin should expect slower growth, job losses and a manufacturing decline under this approach.
“What’s worse, last year’s bill wasn’t nearly as taxing as the newly-released ACES proposal, so expect those numbers to grow even higher. Perhaps this bill should be renamed the American Comprehensive Economic Suicide Act.
“I agree with Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who said a major technological breakthrough is needed to meet these global warming goals. Tax credits will let the private sector decide the best way to fund this vital research, and is a better path than the one laid out today by Democratic leaders.”
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