EXTREMISM WATCH: SENATE CAP AND TRADE BILL EVEN MORE EXTREME THAN HOUSE BILL
Contact: Nachama Soloveichik or Tim Kelly - 484.809.7994
Allentown, PA – As the Senate’s Environment Committee takes up cap-and-trade legislation today, U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey urged caution against any bill that would place an onerous energy tax on Pennsylvanian businesses and destroy jobs.
Unfortunately, the Senate committee does not appear to have learned anything from the vocal debate over the House bill last spring. The House bill, which required a 17% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, was expected to cost Pennsylvanians over 70,000 jobs over the next two decades and increase energy and electricity prices, according to a study by the National Association of Manufacturers. The new Senate legislation goes a step further, requiring a 20% cut in emissions by 2020.
“While it is certainly important to protect our environment, we can do so without destroying tens of thousands of jobs and undermining the standard of living of Pennsylvania families,” Mr. Toomey said. “As the country struggles with a recession and sky-rocketing unemployment, these kind of extreme polices resulting from one-party rule are the last thing we need.”
“Back in June, Rep. Joe Sestak voted for the House version of cap-and-trade (RC #477), even while many of his Pennsylvanian colleagues in the House—both Democrat and Republican—voted against the bill. In the past, Senator Specter has voiced his support for a similar bill. I urge the Senator to consider the impact such an extreme bill would have on Pennsylvania’s economy and reject the extremism of the Democratic Party’s far left wing.”
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