Senator Greg Rothman (R-34) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s press conference today in Dauphin County to promote his energy tax:
“The governor’s ‘new’ energy plan isn’t new at all. It is a massive energy tax modeled after California’s failed policies that have led to increased utility costs, rolling blackouts, increased costs of goods, stifled economic growth, and waves of departures. Even proponents of his energy tax admit that the governor’s plan would increase costs for everyone. There is never a good time to raise taxes, but with inflation at record-highs, now is the worst possible time to heap additional burdens on Pennsylvania families.”
“If he chose to, the governor could immediately help all Pennsylvanians save on their electric bills by honoring his campaign promise to get Pennsylvania out of RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative). RGGI has already been ruled unconstitutional and will drive up already record-high utility prices. Pennsylvanians don’t need a new tax; they need relief.”
“Instead, the governor’s proposed plan would take money from every Pennsylvania consumer and producer, returning only a portion of it in ‘rebates’ to those chosen by him. It’s bad enough when government picks winners and losers–in this case we’d ALL be losers.”
“A tax by any other name is still a tax. Pennsylvania is an energy producer; we need to be part of the energy cost solution by unleashing the Commonwealth’s energy potential. Pennsylvania also needs to be part of the national security solution by moving toward greater energy independence. Unrealistic alternative energy mandates cripple domestic energy production and only help our geopolitical adversaries, including the communist Chinese, Middle Eastern terrorists, Russia and Vladimir Putin.”
Background Information:
Gov. Shapiro asked for the General Assembly to act without having engaged the legislature in the development of his new cap-and-trade proposal.
The RGGI Working Group established by Gov. Shapiro didn’t endorse a Pennsylvania carbon-tax-and-trade program.
In fact, the RGGI Working Group final report stated “there was no consensus on the preferred specific form of cap-and-invest (i.e RGGI vs. PJM-wide).
Gov. Shapiro has said Pennsylvania is the number one exporter of energy in the country. If our policies are outdated, how are we outpacing? Do our current policies work?