Will Target Dems Support a National Energy Tax That Could Burden Thousands, Kill Jobs?

May 4, 2009

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Marion Berry (AR-01); John Barrow (GA-12); Chris Carney (PA-10); Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03); Joe Donnelly (IN-02); Steve Driehaus (OH-01); Chet Edwards (TX-17); Brad Ellsworth (IN-08); Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08); Bart Gordon (TN-06); Martin Heinrich (NM-01); Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL); Paul Kanjorski (PA-11); Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15); Betsy Markey (CO-04); Jim Matheson (UT-02) ; Harry Mitchell (AZ-05); Gary Peters (MI-09) ; Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23); Mike Ross (AR-04); John Salazar (CO-03); Mark Schauer (MI-07); Vic Snyder (AR-02); Zack Space (OH-18); Bart Stupak (MI-01) and Harry Teague (NM-02).

Will Harry Teague Support a National Energy Tax That Could Burden Thousands, Kill Jobs?
Key ‘Blue Dog’ Democrat on Energy Committee Says it Would Kill Jobs and Hike Up Rates, Does Harry Teague Agree?

Washington- Democrats on Capitol Hill are being pressured to defend their position on a National Energy Tax that could hurt middle-class families and cost American jobs. Now that Democrat Congressman Charlie Melancon (D-LA) has stopped dancing around the issue of how badly a National Energy Tax could affect struggling American families, his fellow Democrat Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM) must answer whether or not he agrees.

Melancon finally admitted this weekend to the Baton Rouge Advocate that this National Energy Tax would unnecessarily burden already struggling families, and would cost even more jobs in a weak economy:

“At this point Melancon said he can’t support the draft because it would shut down the state’s energy coast. Melancon’s vote could have a detrimental effect on getting the measure out of committee. ‘I believe this bill would create an undue burden on families who are already paying too much in energy bills and on an industry that provides thousands of Louisianians with good jobs,’ Melancon said.” (Gerard Shields, “La. Democrats key figures in federal emissions debate,” Baton Rouge Advocate, May 2, 2009)

Will Teague try to dodge the issue and seek political cover behind Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the chairman of the Democrats’ campaign committee? Or worse yet, will he side up with liberal energy committee chairman Henry Waxman from California who wants to move his extremist agenda?“Tensions over the direction of a sweeping climate change bill boiled over in a House Democratic leadership meeting Thursday, as Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (Calif.) lashed out at Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) for appearing to publicly downgrade the measure’s chances this year. ‘This is not helpful,’ Waxman told Van Hollen, citing reports that presented the party’s campaign chief as opposing aggressive action on the bill, sources familiar with the meeting said.” (Dennis and Newmyer, “Democrats Clash on Climate Change,” Roll Call, May 4, 2009)

So, the question is simple: Will Harry Teague continue to avoid the issue and, in turn, jeopardize the jobs and well-being of his constituents in New Mexico?

“Now that yet another one of his colleagues has come out in opposition to the National Energy Tax, Harry Teague must decide between taking political cover behind the Democrat campaign chairman or siding with the extremist agenda of the energy committee’s chairman at the expense of working families in New Mexico,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “If Harry Teague continues to play political dodge ball with this important issue, the futures of thousands of families and jobs in his district will be caught in the middle.”

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