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By Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

The summer months are here and as families plan vacations, our country continues to struggle with high energy costs. That is why Washington Democrats’ cap and trade—better known as “cap and tax”— plan is an irresponsible proposal that will do more harm than good.  The simple truth behind the Democrats’ so-called energy plan is that it raises taxes, kills jobs, and will lead to more government intrusion in our lives.

This “cap and tax” plan is really a disguise for a $846 billion national energy tax that will hit nearly every American family.  Democratic Representative John Dingell, himself a seasoned expert on energy policy, summed up the cap and tax policy with surprising clarity.  He called it “a great big” tax.  

This new national energy tax will be paid by anyone who turns on a light switch or plugs in an appliance.  While many of the important details of this national energy tax plan are still not publically known, the plan will cost every American household hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in higher energy prices.

Also disappointing is the fact that this proposed national energy tax will hit the poor the hardest. Experts agree that lower income individuals spend a greater share of their income on energy consumption. So while every American will be paying more for energy, low income households already living on the edge of economic ruin will be hurt even more.

What’s really unfortunate is that President Obama is fully aware of the impact this plan will have on American families. While still a candidate for president, then-Senator Obama said that under his cap and tax plan utility rates would “necessarily skyrocket,” and said that those costs would be passed along to consumers.

The impact of this national energy tax will not only be seen in home utility bills or at the pump.  Various estimates suggest that anywhere from 1.8 million to 7 million Americans could lose their jobs as a result of this plan.  During this severe economic downturn we cannot afford to sacrifice millions more American jobs.

The President is promoting the ‘green jobs’ that may be created by his cap and tax plan, but any new jobs created will fall far short of replacing the millions of jobs lost to this reckless energy policy.  We have no greater example of the devastation a cap and tax system can have on an economy than in Spain. After years of promoting “green jobs” Spain has the highest unemployment rate in Europe, standing at a whopping 17.5 percent.

This national energy tax claims to be an environmentally friendly plan.  But the unfortunate truth is that it will force many employers to relocate manufacturing plants overseas to countries with far less stringent environmental regulations.  Cap and tax will essentially ship American manufacturing jobs overseas while also shipping industrial emissions to another part of the world.  North Carolina’s hard-hit manufacturing sector will have a difficult time surviving yet another round of unfair laws that place them at a competitive disadvantage with overseas manufacturers. 

We can promote clean air and clean water without destroying millions of jobs and shipping pollution overseas.  I am committed to solving our energy crisis.  By using American-made energy and technological innovation, and by harnessing all our energy resources, from clean nuclear and biofuels to hydropower and wind, we can find a better way to achieve energy independence that doesn’t destroy our economy and kill American jobs.

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents the Fifth Congressional District of North Carolina.  She currently serves on the House Rules Committee.  You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.foxx.house.gov.