“In this economy, the last thing we need to do is to have a national energy tax that will discourage hiring and make energy even more expensive.”
Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s speech.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke about how Americans cannot afford President Obama’s national energy tax. Senator Barrasso also pointed out that the President’s new plan completely contradicts Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy’s pledge to the Senate that the agency is not working on developing regulations for existing power plants.
Excerpts of his remarks:
“Today, President Obama is supposed to unveil a national energy tax that will discourage job creation and increase energy bills for American families.
“This announcement about existing power plants comes after the Obama Administration has already moved forward with excessive red tape that makes it harder and more expensive for America to produce energy.
“It also comes as a complete surprise to the members of the Senate—especially since Gina McCarthy, the President’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just told Congress that it wasn’t going to happen.
“Now, she is currently the Assistant Administrator of the EPA. Here’s what she told the Senate about regulations on existing power plants: ‘The agency is not currently developing any existing source GHG regulations for power plants. As a result’ she said, ‘we have performed no analysis that would identify specific health benefits from establishing an existing source program.’
“I would say it is clear with today’s announcement by President Obama about existing power plants, that Gina McCarthy is either arrogant or ignorant.
“She either didn’t tell the truth to the Senate or she doesn’t know what is going on within her own agency.
“Either way, such a person cannot lead the EPA.
“And to the point that this morning’s ‘National Journal Daily,’ with a picture of her right there on the front page says, ‘Obama’s efforts could make EPA nominee Gina McCarthy’s confirmation more difficult.’
“In this economy, the last thing we need to do is to have a national energy tax that will discourage hiring and make energy even more expensive.
“Also, I’d like to point out to the White House, that they continue to say that the main objective of the President’s plan today is to ‘lead the rest of the world.’
“Well, based on the news of the last week, it is clear that the rest of the world—including China and Russia—isn’t following President Obama’s direction or his leadership.”
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