Higher Costs, Higher Unemployment: Frank Kratovil Votes for National Energy Tax

June 26, 2009

Higher Costs, Higher Unemployment: Frank Kratovil Votes for National Energy Tax
Kratovil Casts Vote to Cost Constituents Millions of Dollars, Thousands of Jobs

Washington- Frank Kratovil sent a loud and clear signal to the people of Maryland about where his priorities lie today by siding with his Democrat leaders and voting for their disastrous National Energy Tax. With the outcome of the vote in question until the last minute, Kratovil’s support was crucial to passing the latest installment in the Democrats’ ongoing crusade against economic recovery.

“Frank Kratovil’s vote to kill jobs in his district and hand his constituents higher costs during these difficult times is nothing short of insulting,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “The people of Maryland sent Frank Kratovil to Washington to represent their values and restore prosperity, and he has returned the favor by once again bowing to his party bosses at the expense of middle class families. Unfortunately for Kratovil, he will have to answer to Maryland voters rather than Nancy Pelosi when Election Day rolls around.”

It has long been known that the Democrats’ National Energy tax will devastate the American economy, but a new study shows just how much damage Frank Kratovil voted to wreak on his Maryland congressional district: less than three years from now, the National Energy Tax will cost Kratovil’s constituents more than $510 million and 3,000 jobs. (“How the Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill Would Affect the States, by Congressional District,” Heritage Foundation, 6/25/09)

Background:

With the Vote on the Line, Nancy Pelosi and Democrat Leaders Lobbied Members to Buy into Her Job-Killing Agenda: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prowled the floor Friday morning, hungry for the votes she needs to pass her ‘flagship’ climate-change legislation… Pelosi used a series of votes on a spending bill to work the floor. She buttonholed coal-state lawmakers and huddled with allies to compare tally sheets.” (Soraghan and Allen, “Pelosi, Allies Pressure Dems to Back Climate Bill,” The Hill, 6/26/09)

“The White House, which portrays the bill as a jobs-creation measure, spent the day trying to win over moderates who remain concerned that putting a price on carbon emissions would drive up utility costs and hurt consumers and manufacturers. House Democrats met Thursday morning with senior White House adviser David Axelrod, whose message was direct. ‘The message was: Pass the bill,’ said House Rules Chairwoman Louise M. Slaughter , D-N.Y.” (Davenport and Palmer, “Climate Bill Rides Last-Minute Blitz,” CQ Politics, 6/26/09)

“Democratic leaders are working furiously to corral votes for a controversial climate change measure, hoping to build a big enough margin so that vulnerable Democrats can be freed to vote against it.” (Lisa Lerer and Patrick O’Connor, “Dems Scramble For Climate Votes,” Politico, 06/25/09)

“To Democratic opponents and skeptics, Pelosi seemed to be everywhere this week, lobbying for her ‘flagship”’bill — an effort expected to culminate Friday in a vote too close for anyone to guarantee one way or the other. It is the biggest risk of her tenure as Speaker… Hoping to ensure its passage, she’s taking an active role in whipping the vote and making sure her members understand how much she values this roll call. ‘She really feels climate is her legacy,’ said a former leadership aide. ‘I can’t remember when she’s put so much personal capital into an issue.’” (Soraghan, “Tap on Shoulder from Pelosi,” The Hill, 6/25/09)

President Obama Even Admitted That Under This Bill, Utility Rates Would “Skyrocket”: “Under my plan of a cap and trade system electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket … that will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers …” (President Barack Obama, Meeting with the Editorial Board at the San Francisco Chronicle, January, 2008)

The National Energy Tax will have a devastating effect on the economy:

· It’s a massive energy tax
It will not make a substantive impact on the environment
It will kill jobs
It will cause electricity bills and gas prices to sharply increase
It will outsource manufacturing jobs and hurt free trade
It will make you choose among energy, groceries, clothing, and haircuts
It will be highly susceptible to fraud and corruption
It will hurt senior citizens, the poor, and the unemployed the worst

(“The Cost of Cap and Trade: Why the EPA and CBO Are Wrong,” Heritage Foundation, 6/24/09)