Pence Says Democrats Need to 'Come Clean' About the Cost of Cap and Trade

Pence Says Democrats Need to "Come Clean" About the Cost of Cap and Trade

This Plan Caps Growth and Trades Jobs and Must Be Opposed

APRIL 23, 2009

Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement on the House floor today in response to the Democrats’ ‘cap and tax’ legislation:


 “Mr. Speaker, this week House Democrats began hearings on so-called ‘cap and trade’ legislation. It is their legislative response to concerns over global climate change. Even former Vice President Al Gore will testify tomorrow here on Capitol Hill. But as many around this country and in this body are realizing, there are a lot of inconvenient truths about the cap and trade bill. The Democrat plan actually caps growth and trades jobs. The truth is, this cap and trade legislation is essentially an economic declaration of war on the Midwest by liberals in Washington, D.C., and it must be opposed.

“Under the Democratic plan, estimates suggest the average American household could face more than $3,000 a year in higher energy costs and people in the Midwest, like us in Indiana, will bear the largest burden. Even the President, as a candidate, said that ‘under my plan of cap and trade, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.’

“And we can only estimate these numbers, Mr. Speaker, because the Democrat plan includes no numbers. Truth is, the American people deserve to know what all this is going to cost them. Democrats in Congress need to come clean about the cost of their cap and trade bill and when they do, this Congress and the American people will reject it.”

 

Note: To view this clip, click here.

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For additional information, contact:

The House Republican Conference Press Office at (202) 226-9000 or
Matt Lloyd (matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov)
Mary Vought (mary.vought@mail.house.gov)