John Boccieri Caves, Serves as Pelosi's Puppet on National Energy Tax

June 26, 2009

John Boccieri Caves, Serves as Pelosi’s Puppet on National Energy Tax
Boccieri Criticized Job-Killing Bill, But Ended Up Voting with Nancy Pelosi

Washington- John Boccieri sent a loud and clear signal to the people of Ohio about where his priorities lie by switching sides to back his Democrat leaders and their proposal for a disastrous National Energy Tax. Boccieri had originally criticized the onerous energy bill, but with the outcome of the vote in question until the last minute, Boccieri offered his critical support to pass the latest installment in the Democrats’ ongoing crusade against economic recovery. According to a recent study, the National Energy Tax’s impact can be felt in just three years, when it will cost Boccieri’s Ohio congressional district over 4,200 jobs and $419 million in personal income.

“John Boccieri led Ohio voters to believe that they actually had a representative in Congress fighting against higher energy costs and spiking unemployment,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Unfortunately, Boccieri once again bowed to his party bosses at the expense of middle-class families. Now, the people of Ohio will have to foot the bill for Nancy Pelosi’s arm-twisting and John Boccieri’s stunning lack of principle.”

Initially, Boccieri criticized the National Energy Tax: “One man expressed concern about President Obama’s proposed cap and trade tax, which would seek to limit the emission of carbon dioxide in order to mitigate global warming. ‘My understanding from what I’ve heard is it’s going to cause a big increase in our utility bills.’ Boccieri said the White House has been lobbying him heavily, but, ‘in its present form, cap and trade would be devastating to Ohio.’” (Robert Wang, “Boccieri Holds Telephone Town Hall Meeting,” Canton Repository, 3/25/09)

Yet Boccieri ended up voting with Nancy Pelosi and his party leaders. So much for standing up for Ohio families.

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)