Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (June 10th, 2016) –Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted to condemn proposals to tax carbon emissions and raise taxes on oil. In his FY 2017 budget, President Obama proposed a $10 tax hike on every barrel of oil and has often spoken of taxing carbon emissions. These taxes would burden American energy consumers and stifle the energy renaissance that is responsible for helping pull America back from recession. 

Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At large), Vice Chairman Scott Tipton (CO-03), and Chairman Emeritus Steve Pearce (NM-02) issued the following statements in response:

“Energy is the foundation of our modern economy so a tax on energy is a tax on everything that depends on energy, from food to healthcare to transportation,” said Chairman Lummis. “There is no aspect of our economy that would not be burdened by the President’s proposed taxes and our countries most vulnerable citizens would be hit the hardest. Seniors, families, and Americans struggling with a lagging economy would all be forced to pay more at the pump, when they turn on the lights, and when they feed their children. This is why I am proud to stand with my colleagues to condemn this tax hike.”

“I firmly back the notion that we as Americans must take advantage of alternative energy resources and new transportation and power generation technologies.  However, those resources and technologies are only one part of what should be a multi-pronged strategy.  If true energy independence is our goal, we cannot simply price ourselves out of using traditional energy sources and transportation fuels, yet that is exactly what the President is proposing with this tax,” said Vice Chairman Tipton. “Artificially raising prices on the most affordable of America’s energy resources hurts the very people the President has told us for eight years his policies are supposed to benefit.”

“Energy fuels New Mexico’s economy – from keeping the lights on to keeping our cars running.  The President’s proposed energy tax will be placed squarely on the shoulders of hardworking Americans and will be extremely harmful to those living paycheck to paycheck.  Taxing affordable energy sources results in higher prices at the pump, on our electric bills, and the loss of thousands of good paying jobs.  I proudly stand opposed to the Administration’s attempt to further increase the economic burden on those who can afford it the least,” said Chairman Emeritus Pearce.

Background:

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in its 2013 assessment titled “Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the Environment,” plainly states: “A carbon tax would increase the prices of fossil fuels in direct proportion to their carbon content. Higher fuel prices, in turn, would raise production costs and ultimately drive up prices for goods and services throughout the economy.”

###