Liberal U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today voted against an amendment to stop the Obama Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) job-killing backdoor energy tax – once again siding with President Barack Obama and his liberal party bosses over the best interests of Ohio’s families and job creators.

The Wall Street Journal has called the amendment, proposed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), “one of the best proposals for growth and job creation to make it onto the Senate docket in years,” and the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) strongly urged Brown and other U.S. Senators to support the measure, saying “the EPA’s actions only make it more difficult for small business owners to grow their business and create jobs, especially in an economy that is just beginning to turn around.”

But instead of supporting the proposal – which would simply allow America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs to compete and grow on a level playing field without additional burdensome government regulations, costs, or red tape – Brown once again sided with the liberal wing of his party, and opened the door for President Obama’s EPA to enact their job-killing backdoor energy tax. Notably, Brown’s vote stands in marked contrast to that of his fellow Ohio U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), who voted for the McConnell amendment.

“Once again, Sherrod Brown left no doubt that he continues to side with President Barack Obama on each and every important issue facing Americans, even when it’s bad for Ohio small businesses,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “By allowing the Obama EPA to enact their backdoor energy tax, Brown has done harm to Ohio’s families and job creators, and voters will hold him accountable for his job-killing record at the polls next fall.”

Background Information:

NFIB: ‘The EPA’s Actions Only Make It More Difficult For Small Business Owners To Grow Their Business And Create Jobs’

NFIB: “On Behalf Of The National Federation Of Independent Business (NFIB), The Nation’s Leading Small Business Advocacy Organization, I Urge You To Support The McConnell/Inhofe Amendment (#183) to S. 493, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization bill, which would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating stationary sources of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.” (The National Federation Of Independent Business, Letter To U.S. Senators, 4/6/11)

• NFIB: “The EPA’s Actions Only Make It More Difficult For Small Business Owners To Grow Their Business And Create Jobs” “Coupled with the increase in costs resulting from the increased permitting and reporting requirements under these regulations, the EPA’s actions only make it more difficult for small business owners to grow their business and create jobs, especially in an economy that is just beginning to turn around.” (The National Federation Of Independent Business, Letter To U.S. Senators, 4/6/11)