Jeff Miller on energy policy

On June 26th, Democrats in Congress passed one of the largest tax increases in history, and did it without even changing the tax code.  With the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454), or the “cap and trade” bill, every American family will pay more for their energy costs.  Electric and heating bills will climb, we will pay more for gas at the pump, farmers will pay more to grow our food, and the price for consumer goods will unavoidably rise.  In an economic climate like the one we currently face, forcing Americans to spend more of their disposable income on energy costs is outrageous and dangerous.  That is why I strongly opposed this legislation and sincerely hope that it does not make it through the Senate.

While the estimates on the exact cost to American taxpayers vary, no one disputes the fact that consumers will pay more for their energy.  President Obama has admitted that a cap and tax system like the Waxman-Markey legislation would cause electricity rates to “necessarily skyrocket.”  The costs skyrocket because that is the very point of cap and trade.  When electricity prices are drastically increased, consumers are forced to make cuts in order to meet their budgets.  These cuts in electricity use cause a similar decrease in emissions.

The goal of reducing pollution is one I strongly support, but a cap and trade system is not the way to reach this objective.  Not only will Americans pay more every year for energy, but the bill will result in a huge net loss of American jobs.  According to the independent Charles River Associates International, H.R. 2454 would result in a “net reduction in   U.S. employment of 2.3 million to 2.7 million jobs each year of the policy through 2030,” even after the creation of the promised new green jobs.  National unemployment hovers near 10 percent, and any bill that results in millions of American job losses is completely unacceptable.

The residents in Northwest Florida will be hit particularly hard by this bill’s tremendous negative consequences because it unfairly targets farmers and rural   America .  Rural residents spend 58 percent more on fuel and travel 25 percent further to work than those living in urbanized areas.  A Heritage Foundation study found that the cap and trade bill would cause a Gross Domestic Product loss in our district alone of $782 million each year for the next 20 years. 

The people I represent refuse to accept such remarkable economic losses in our area in exchange for a misguided policy that reportedly will have little positive impact on the world’s environment.

There is a better solution to   America ’s energy and emissions problems.  I support an “all of the above” approach as a comprehensive energy solution.  Let’s focus on developing clean and renewable energy, exploring new domestic sources for oil and natural gas, and building nuclear power plants.  These are the solutions that Americans deserve, and I will continue working to ensure that energy reform is not achieved on the backs of hardworking taxpayers and American small businesses.