Issue Position: Cap and Trade

Issue Position

Climate change is one of the major issues the Obama Administration has taken on since assuming the White House in 2008. Consequently, some in Washington have been attempting to force the American public to use less energy through establishing a "cap and trade" system. This proposal would set caps on how much energy can be used by power plants, utilities companies, industry and consumers. When those caps are breached the carbon offsets would be required by the user as compensation. In other words, the federal government would levy a tax when targeted carbon emissions were exceeded. Make no mistake, the Waxman-Markey bill, also known as "Cap and Trade", is nothing more than an attempt to make fossil fuels more expensive in order to force less consumption of oil, coal and natural gas.

After a contentious debate and several backroom deals, the House narrowly passed a cap and trade bill in June of 2009 - the Senate has yet to act. During the debate on this bill, my advocacy for a common sense solution to America's energy needs was recognized by the House Republican leadership and subsequently I was asked to join the American Energy Solutions working group. As we move forward I will continue to advocate for an "all-of-the-above" solution to America's energy crisis and find commonsense solutions that do not put American jobs and family budgets at risk.

In June 2009 I voted against this misguided legislation because of the disastrous effects it would have on the U.S. economy, especially in rural areas. More than sixty percent of Pennsylvania's electricity is generated from coal, the regulations put forth in cap and trade would drastically increase the cost of electricity in Pennsylvania. The following is from the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission:

"Pennsylvania is the 4th largest coal producer in the nation, distributing over 75 million tons of coal each year. Roughly 7% of the nation's coal supply is in Pennsylvania, and 58% of all electricity used here comes from coal. However, if the Waxman-Markey bill were to pass, Pennsylvania is looking at a bleak scenario by 2020: a net loss of as many as 66,000 jobs, a sizable hike in the electric bills of residential customers, an increase in natural gas prices, and significant downward pressure on our gross state product."

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