GOP Leader Blog
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Obama Administration Shuns the Phrase “Cap-and-Trade,” But Continues to Push a Job-Killing National Energy Tax
Posted by
Kevin Boland
on
March 31, 2010
As today's New York Times reports, the Obama Administration has decided to open some areas off the East Coast to offshore drilling - but his decision also keeps the vast majority of America's offshore energy resources off limits at a time when Americans want an "all of the above" strategy for promoting American energy production and creating American jobs. Meanwhile, the Administration continues to push for a job-killing national energy tax - even as it seeks to ditch the term "cap and trade," as The Hill reported this morning:
‘I think the term 'cap-and-trade' is not in the lexicon anymore,' [Interior Secretary Ken] Salazar, a former senator, said during an interview on CNBC when asked if the climate change regulation system would be abandoned....'We're hopeful we will be able to see an energy and climate change agenda move forward,' he said.In other words, the Administration is still intent on jamming through a national energy tax, just don't call it "cap and trade." But as Joe Weisenthal at the Business Insider commented: Ok, so the Obama administration is going to allow some offshore drilling. The surprise decision is being couched in language about creating jobs and reducing dependence on foreign oil. Yeah yeah. The real story is that Cap & Trade is back on the table, as Ken Salazar is stating on CNBC right now. Obama gives a gift to oil drillers, and in exchange he gets the equivalent of an energy tax....with some corporate support. Actually, cap & trade has already enjoyed significant corporate support from the likes of Goldman Sachs (GS) and GE (GE), which are eager to make a market in carbon offsets. Now, presumably, we'll see more corporate support.Though "cap and trade" cleared the House despite bipartisan opposition last year, it has faced strong resistance in the Senate and among the American people. But reminiscent of Speaker Pelosi's quip about health care that, "we will go through the gate; if the gate is closed, we will go over the fence; if the fence is too high, we will pole-vault in; if that doesn't work, we will parachute in," the Administration continues to plot to enact a national energy tax by fiat, via the EPA. As House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) noted today: It's long past time for this Administration to stop delaying American energy production off all our shores and start listening to the American people who want an "all of the above" strategy to produce more American energy and create more jobs. Republicans are listening to the American people and have proposed a better solution - the American Energy Act - which will lower gas prices, increase American energy production, promote new clean and renewable sources of energy, and encourage greater efficiency and conservation.Read more about the American Energy Act HERE. |