HARPER: AMERICA DESERVES AMERICAN ENERGY
“I believe there are better solutions than paying more taxes for fewer jobs and more government.”
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Gregg Harper voted today against cap and trade legislation that intends to severely tax the use of carbon-based energy and reward the use of renewable energy.
“America deserves a comprehensive energy plan that will increase American energy production made by American workers,” said Congressman Gregg Harper. “That is why I support and ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that harnesses new technologies, like solar and wind, and increases American energy production from oil, natural gas and nuclear power in an environmentally-safe manner.”
Independent sources estimate the legislation will result in a net reduction in job loss of 2.3 to 2.7 million per year through 2030, even after the creation of new renewable energy jobs. Employment losses will be felt across the country, further pushing manufactures to relocate overseas to foreign countries like China and India with less stringent environmental safeguards.
Mississippians will feel the impact of cap and trade by way of higher energy costs with rates increasing $20 to $100 per month and job losses in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Additionally, the revenue derived from this new tax on energy is not dedicated to facilitating the change in policy, generating billions of dollars in new federal revenue for massive new government spending programs.
The bill also creates the National Building Standard for homes and commercial buildings giving the Federal Government power over state and local building codes. States that do not modify their codes to meet the new federal mandates will see those codes involuntarily overwritten and will lose federal funds. Owners will be held liable by the federal government, who will enforce building codes for not reaching this new federal mandate even if their structure meets local building codes.
“During this time of economic uncertainty with an unemployment rate of 9.4%, America cannot afford to gamble with a misguided energy policy,” added Harper. “I believe there are better solutions than paying more taxes for fewer jobs and more government.”
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A conservative man of faith and integrity, Congressman Gregg Harper took the Oath of Office in January 2009 to serve the citizens of Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Prior to being sworn-in, his peers elected him as the freshman on the Republican Steering Committee in the House of Representatives. Gregg is the only Republican freshman appointed by Republican Leader John Boehner to the Committee on House Administration and also sits on the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the Joint Committee on the Library. Gregg currently resides in Pearl with his wife of 29 years, Sidney, and their two children, Livingston and Maggie, where the Harpers are active members of Crossgates Baptist church.