Scalise: A carbon tax is a costly burden for American families

WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) led H.Con.Res 119, expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy, to strong passage in the House today with a vote of 229-180. Thanks to pro-growth Republican reforms, American families are seeing increased opportunity and the U.S. has entered a new era of energy dominance. A carbon tax as proposed by some special interest groups would undo the economic benefits we've seen, impose a costly, job-killing burden on all Americans, and stunt U.S. energy growth and success.

Before the vote, Whip Scalise spoke on the House floor in support of his resolution.

Click here or on the image above to watch his remarks.

"I thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague from Texas for yielding. And for bringing this legislation to the floor. I rise in strong support as the lead author of House Concurrent Resolution 119, along with my colleague, Mr. McKinley from West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the question's real simple and that is, do we support or oppose a carbon tax?

"I think the case is very clear by anybody who's looked objectively at what a carbon tax would do to the economy. It would be devastating to our manufacturing base, it would kill jobs, and I think most devastating, Mr. Speaker, it would rise in increased cost for families all across this country.

"If you look at this chart right here, it talks about the estimate, what this would do to families. There would be an increase by an estimated $1,900 per family on the cost of things that they buy all across this country. The resolution is simple. Be it resolved by the House that it is a sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to American families and businesses and is not in the best interest of the United States. Yes or no. It's a clear yes vote if you're concerned about families.

"Why don't we talk about some of the groups in support. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, says, 'A carbon tax would harm the U.S. Economy by raising the cost of all goods and services, imposing an unfair burden on the lower and middle class, and deterring new investment thereby killing jobs.'

"Why don't we listen to what the American Farm Bureau Federation said. 'Agriculture is an energy intensive sector and a carbon tax levied on farmers and ranchers would be devastating.'

"And then, Mr. Speaker, let's listen to what Grover Norquist of the Americans for Tax Reform said. 'A carbon tax would kill American jobs by the millions.'

"Why would we want to allow the possibility -- believe me, there are some people in Washington that are talking about trying to bring a carbon tax. To act like there is no talk about it at all, clearly there are people here in this chamber that want to impose a carbon tax.

"Let's be clear about how devastating that would be to the American economy. Everybody gets to take a position on this today, Mr. Speaker. You are either for a carbon tax or against it. I would urge strong support for House Concurrent Resolution 119 . I yield back the balance of my time."

Rep. David McKinley:

"Recent CBO and Stanford studies have warned that a carbon tax is the most regressive form of tax that could be implemented and would impact poor and middle-class families at double the rate. It would raise the costs on everything Americans consume like gasoline, diesel fuel, food, clothing, or supplies. Thanks to tax cuts and regulatory reform, America's economy is on the rise. Implementing a carbon tax would put the brakes on that progress. To address environmental concerns, we should focus on research, innovation, incentives, and efficiency."

Key stakeholder groups support the legislation:

"Affordable energy is key to helping struggling families, and boosting American productivity, economic growth and international standing. Tax cuts are restarting American manufacturing and bringing jobs back to America, but slapping a new tax on virtually all products produced would destroy all these gains. We commend Rep. Scalise for recognizing the destruction that a carbon tax would bring to the U.S. economy, and strongly urge all Representatives to do the right thing and vote in favor of this resolution,"said David Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

"A carbon tax is a tax on energy—that means it is a tax on driving our cars, heating our homes, and keeping the lights on. Consequently, this socially regressive policy would raise home energy bills and gasoline prices for the people who can least afford it. If ever enacted, it would also raise the cost of goods and services across the board for all Americans, ultimately destroying jobs and making our economy less competitive," said Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity.

“AFPM strongly supports the Scalise-McKinley anti-carbon tax resolution. Energy is the engine of progress. Making it more expensive will hurt our economy and disproportionately impact middle- and low-income families who can least afford it,"said Chet Thompson, President, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.

“In both theory and practice, the case for a carbon tax fails to serve the interests of the American public. A carbon tax would induce irrevocable economic harm on the United States while failing to meaningfully resolve any environmental issues. The American Energy Alliance supports the resolution introduced by Majority Whip Scalise and Congressman McKinley against such a damaging policy,"said Tom Pyle, President, American Energy Alliance.

"Our great nation is at a crossroads. We can continue to reduce regulations and watch our economy rise with the recent tax reform. Bringing unnecessary hurdles before us like a carbon tax will preclude that growth and hurt our economy immensely. The NBCC supports the efforts of Scalise and McKinley," said Harry C. Alford, President, National Black Chamber of Congress.

“The American Farm Bureau Federation strongly supports the Scalise-McKinley resolution expressing congressional disapproval of a carbon tax. Agriculture is an energy-intensive sector, and a carbon tax levied on farmers and ranchers would be devastating. We support this legislation and commend Rep. Scalise for spearheading this effort. We call on members on both sides of the aisle to lend their support to this resolution," said Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation.

“I support the Scalise and McKinley resolution putting congress on record opposing any carbon tax. A carbon tax would kill American jobs by the millions. Taxpayers rightly fear and oppose a carbon tax. The carbon tax combines the worst of tax-and-spend politics and nanny-state hectoring. This resolution will tell them who in congress stands with them and who threatens their job and their future," said Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform.

“A carbon tax is like all other “progressive” climate policies. All ratchet up over time until their politically-disfavored victims are financially depleted and politically marginalized. In short, a carbon tax is a form of economic warfare waged by government against otherwise perfectly lawful enterprises. That is not how business is done in a free society and this resolution from Reps. Scalise and McKinley gets it exactly right," said Marlo Lewis, Senior Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute.

“A carbon tax would be devastating to millions of American women and their families, causing their electricity bills and transportation costs to skyrocket, as well as suppressing their wages. Sadly, it would unfairly harm poor and middle-income families the most. Moms know that every dollar in the family budget counts. During a time when we are celebrating long overdue wage increases and income tax cuts, the idea of increasing taxes on basic necessities, like energy, should be off the table," said Heather R. Higgins, CEO, Independent Women's Voice.

“CCAGW believes that a carbon tax would harm the U.S. economy by raising the cost of all goods and services, imposing an unfair burden on the lower and middle classes, and deterring new investment, thereby killing jobs. Congress should instead act on pro-growth policies that will make the United States more competitive and prosperous," said Tom Schatz, President, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.

Click here to see a letter from a coalition of 41 conservative groups supporting H.Con.Res 119.

Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, and Freedomworks all designated this resolution as a key vote for their Congressional score cards.