Will Tom Perriello Bow to Pelosi on National Energy Tax?
Will Tom Perriello Bow to Pelosi on National Energy Tax?
Perriello Already Knows Energy Tax Will Kill Jobs, But What Else is Hidden in the Bill?
Washington– As Nancy Pelosi forces her massive job-killing energy tax through Congress, Virginia voters need to know if Tom Perriello will actually read the 1,200-page bill or allow his Democrat leaders to pull the wool over his eyes once again. With the bill set to come to a vote on Friday, Perriello and his fellow Democrats will once again vote on an enormous piece of legislation with just a few short days to read the gritty details.
“As Tom Perriello continues to play along with Speaker Pelosi’s efforts to pass another job-killing bill without time to actually read its contents, the people of Virginia are left to wonder what else is hidden in this massive energy tax,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “After the stimulus debacle, Virginia voters have already learned the hard way what happens when Tom Perriello buys into Pelosi’s ‘trust me’ sales pitch.”
The lobbying effort is startlingly similar to what took place prior to passage of the so-called stimulus bill, which Democrats passed without reading and included such famous provisions as protection for AIG bonuses. Indeed, the Speaker is pushing hard to get her members to fall in line as her deadline approaches:
“Pelosi is pushing the climate change measure full tilt, and enormous pressure is already building for rank-and-file Democrats to fall into line.”
“That lobbying effort has now kicked into higher gear, according to Democratic aides and lobbyists, with the White House and Democratic leadership launching a full-court press to bring one of President Barack Obama’s top two legislative initiatives across the finish line.” (Steven T. Dennis and Tory Newmyer, “Pelosi Flexes Muscle,” Roll Call, 6/24/09)
Background:
“The 1,073-page [stimulus bill] includes the biggest spending increase since World War II, but more important is the fine print expanding the role of the federal government across the breadth of American business, health care, energy and welfare policy.
“Given those stakes, you might think Congress would get more than a few hours to debate it. But, no, yesterday’s roll call votes came less than 24 hours after House-Senate conferees had agreed to their deal. Democrats rushed the bill to the floor before Members could even read it, much less have time to broadcast the details so the public could offer its verdict.” (“1,073 Pages: A Stimulus Bill That’s Anything but Transparent ,” Wall Street Journal Editorial, 2/16/09)
“Democratic leaders scrambling to strip AIG executives of bonuses are having a hard time answering a key question: Why didn’t Congress act to prevent the bonuses in the first place?”
“Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana… made a stunning admission.
“‘Frankly it was such a rush — we’re talking about the stimulus bill now — to get it passed, I didn’t have time and other conferees didn’t have time to address many of the provisions that were modified significantly,’ said Baucus.” (Dana Bash and Ted Barrett, “Bonuses Allowed by Stimulus Bill,” CNN, 3/18/09)