Cole Opposes Latest Energy Tax

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) made the following statement after the House vote on H.R. 3534, the "CLEAR" Act:

"This is simply a bad bill. Democrats are exploiting the BP spill to impose new taxes and bureaucracy that will raise energy costs for consumers, kill jobs and increase dependence on foreign oil. There is no guarantee that this legislation will do a thing to prevent future spills, but it is certain that it will discourage domestic exploration and punish small, independent companies that had nothing to do with the spill. At a time when we should be doing everything possible to create jobs and promote energy independence, this is exactly the wrong approach."

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