Tiahrt: End the Assault on America's Energy Independence
U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) this week called on the Obama administration and Congress to end the assault on America's energy independence by leaving in place domestic energy production tax incentives that have been in place for 100 years. Tiahrt introduced a congressional resolution calling for a comprehensive energy plan that creates American jobs and leads us toward energy independence.
The Obama administration is seeking to raise taxes on domestic manufacturers of oil and gas, which will lead to higher gasoline prices at the pump, higher utility bills, and make it more difficult for independent oil and gas producers to employ Kansas workers. Tiahrt's resolution declares that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the domestic energy tax incentives remain.
"This week I took another step in calling for the Obama administration and Democrat leaders in Congress to end the assault on America's energy independence," said Tiahrt. "The energy tax increase proposals by the Obama administration will force us to be more reliant on foreign-produced energy and will be detrimental to Kansas workers.
"President Obama and the Democrat Majority seem to have no problem spending trillions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars on bailouts and a so-called stimulus bill, but they want to slap a $30 billion tax increase on American energy producers as part of the FY2010 budget. That $30 billion tax increase will be passed on to us when we refuel our cars and trucks and pay our utility bills.
"Ninety percent of the oil and natural gas producers in the United States are small, independent businesses. Tax increases of this enormity on top of our economic recession would lead to further jobs losses and higher energy costs for consumers.
"My resolution encourages the creation of a bi-partisan plan to conserve energy, invest in alternative and renewable sources of energy, increase refining capacity in America, and allow more of our natural resources to be used for our energy production. We need to be using skilled American workers to produce American energy so we can become more energy independent.
"I will continue fighting for Kansas jobs and American energy independence despite opposition from President Obama and Washington Democrats. In the end I hope common-sense will prevail and we can put Americans back to work and put our country on a path toward energy independence."
Tiahrt serves as dean of the Kansas House Congressional Delegation and has been a key player in leading the fight for a comprehensive energy plan. He was selected by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) to join the newly-formed American Energy Solutions Group to find solutions to lower energy prices for American families and small businesses. Last year, Tiahrt launched his Energy Freedom initiative to offer real solutions that Congress can vote on to lower the price of energy today and into our future. Click here to be directed to Tiahrt's Energy Freedom website: http://www.house.gov/tiahrt/energyfreedom/
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Contact: Wendy Knox (Rep. Todd Tiahrt) at (202) 225-6216
Our pro-growth agenda will remove government barriers to job creation without raising taxes on working families and small business owners.
