Contact: Matt Dempsey matt_dempsey@epw.senate.gov 202-224-9797 

Razor-Thin House Vote Spells Doom for Cap-and-Tax in the Senate

Inhofe Vows to Expose Bill in the Senate as All Cost, No Climate Gain

Link to Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, commented today on the House passage of the "America's Clean Energy and Security Act," (Waxman-Markey bill) by a vote of 219 to 212. The bill now moves to the Senate where Senator Inhofe vowed to lead the opposition to what he called the "largest tax increase in American history."

"Today's razor thin vote in the House spells doom in the Senate," Senator Inhofe said. "Despite a large Democratic majority in the House, and the fact that this is one of the President's top priorities, the Democratic leadership was forced to do everything possible to get a bill passed. Their slim victory could come at a high price - this is the BTU tax all over again.

"I am pleased to see the entire Oklahoma House delegation stand united in their opposition to the bill. Oklahomans understand the devastating impacts this bill would have on our energy and agricultural industries. In particular, I want to thank Rep. Lucas for his hard work in exposing these costly impacts on the agricultural community.

"The Waxman-Markey bill is just the latest incarnation of cap-and-trade legislation that will destroy American jobs by pushing them overseas, force consumers to shoulder the burden of higher gasoline and electricity prices, and drastically increase the size and scope of the federal government. In the Senate, I have worked with my colleagues to successfully defeat cap-and-trade legislation in 2003, 2005, and most recently in 2008. Now, just a year later, and with the economy in a deep recession, it is hard to believe that many more senators would support legislation that would strangle any hope of economic recovery and impose the largest tax increase in American history."

Related Links:

Oklahoman Editorial: For what? Cap and trade bad deal for U.S.

STRASSEL: The Climate Change Climate Change