Cole Floor Speech on Cap-and-Tax Legislation

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) made the following remarks on the House floor regarding H.R. 2454, the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill.

MR COLE: "I rise today to speak against this flawed cap-and-trade or cap-and-tax legislation. There's no good time for a bad idea, Madam Speaker this bad bill is nothing more or less than a national energy tax. The legislation will force American families to pay on average more than $3,000 a year in additional energy costs. The majority would like us to believe that passing this legislation will benefit all Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Under this bill, energy producing states like Oklahoma will be economically punished and devastated. Residents in rural areas who must commute long distances to work will be disproportionately affected. Rising fuel prices coupled with rising energy costs will force people to make ever tougher choices. Many will face reduced living standards, spending less, saving less, going without many items they need far decent life. For over 100 years the people in my state and district have worked hard to produce the energy that this country needs. Now that energy is going to be taxed. Taking away their choices, their jobs, their future just isn't bad policy, It's punitive and shameful. I yield back."
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