Even Fellow Democrats Call Casey Proposal “Laughable” & “A Gimmick”

 As a new USA Today/Gallup survey shows nearly 70 percent of Americans suffering “financial hardship” thanks to a national average of nearly $4-per-gallon gas, Pennsylvanians are reminded that not only is liberal U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) refusing to work with Republicans on bipartisan efforts to lower the price at the pump, he is actually attempting to drive the price of fuel up by raising energy taxes.

As USA Today reports:

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for their families, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. More than half say they have made major changes to compensate for the higher prices, ranging from shorter trips to cutting back on vacation travel. For 21%, the impact is so dramatic they say their standard of living is jeopardized. Nationally, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.96. That’s up 38%, or $1.09, from levels a year ago. In seven states, gas prices have passed July 2008′s record of $4.11 a gallon.

But instead of working to expand domestic production and lower fuel costs for Pennsylvania’s families and job creators, Casey and the liberal wing of the Democrat Party are working to raise energy taxes – a reckless move that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports would “make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.”

“With the vast majority of Pennsylvania’s families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why is Bob Casey working to drive energy costs even higher with his proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond.  “Yet again, Casey’s liberal Washington agenda has put him in direct conflict with the interests of Pennsylvania families and small businesses.”

While his fellow Washington liberals claim that near-record-high gas prices are “not the issue,” even several Senate Democrats have called Casey’s proposal “laughable,” and have made clear that his tax hikes will “cost thousands of jobs” and “increase our dependency on foreign oil.” 

Sadly, this is not the first time Bob Casey has displayed his enthusiasm for energy tax hikes and high gas prices: Casey has repeatedly voted in support of a job-killing cap-and-trade energy tax.

Notably, Casey’s tax-hiking, energy-price-increasing agenda stands in marked contrast to his fellow Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), who strongly opposes raising energy taxes and is working to expand domestic energy production.

Background Information:

In 2008, Casey Voted To Move Forward With The Boxer Amendment That Would “Cap Greenhouse Gas Emissions Nationwide.” “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the Boxer, D-Calif., substitute amendment no. 4825 that would cap greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and set up a trading system for companies to buy and sell emissions allowances.” (S. 3036, CQ Vote #145: Rejected 48-36: R 7-32; D 39-4; I 2-0, 6/6/08, Casey Voted Yea)

“Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., Said He Was Frustrated That Senate Leaders Were Giving Up On The Carbon Tax — At Least For Now. ‘But We Still Have Time This Summer To Keep Working And Lining Up Votes — In September As Well. And We Just Have To Keep Working,’ Casey Said.” (Matthew Daly, “Democrats Abandon Comprehensive Energy Bill,” The Associated Press, 7/22/10)

Casey Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Blocked The EPA From Regulating Carbon Dioxide And Other Greenhouse Gasses. “McConnell, R-Ky., amendment no. 183 that would block the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.” (S. 493, CQ Vote #54: Rejected 50-50: R 46-1; D 4-47; I 0-2, 4/6/11, Casey Voted Nay)

Casey Voted Against An Amendment That Would “Require 60 Votes For Passage Of Any Legislation That Would Result In An Increase In The National Average Price Of Fuel As Determined By The Congressional Budget Office.” “DeMint, R-S.C., motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Bingaman, D-N.M., point of order against the DeMint amendment no. 1546 to the Reid, D-Nev., substitute amendment no. 1502. The DeMint amendment would require 60 votes for passage of any legislation that would result in an increase in the national average price of fuel as determined by the Congressional Budget Office. The substitute would overhaul national energy policies including requiring the annual use of 15 billion gallons of biofuels by 2015, increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 and making petroleum price gouging a federal crime in a “national energy emergency.” It would also encourage carbon sequestration research, require the federal government to purchase 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015 and direct the State Department to pursue strategic partnerships with major energy-consuming and energy-producing nations.” (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #217: Motion rejected by a vote of 37-55: R 36-9; D 1-44; I 0-2, 6/20/07, Casey Voted Nay 

Casey’s Fellow Washington Democrats Admit Their Bill To Raise Taxes on Energy Companies Will Not Lower Gas Prices

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “You know, this is not going to change the price at the gasoline pump. That’s not the issue.  I don’t see that as an issue at all. The issue I see is who shares.” (U.S. Senate, Finance Committee, Hearing, 5/12/11)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “This was never intended to talk about lowering prices.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 5/11/11)

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ): “Nobody has made the claim that this bill is about reducing gas prices.” (“McCaskill: Savings From Cutting Oil Tax Breaks Should Be For Deficit Reduction,” The Hill’s E2 Wire Blog, 5/10/11)

CRS: Dem Tax Hikes “Would Make Oil And Natural Gas More Expensive For U.S. Customers”:

CRS: Tax changes outlined in the President’s budget proposal “would make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.” (“Oil And Natural Gas Industry Tax Issues In The FY2012 Budget Proposal,” Congressional Research Service, 3/3/11) 

DEM SENATOR: “It Will Actually Hurt Job Production In The United States”:

“When it comes up for a vote in the Senate sometime in the next week, its chances of passing seem slim to none because not only is it going to run up against widespread Republican opposition, it won’t even have the support of all 53 Democrats.” (“The Skunks At The Garden Party,” ABC News, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Laughable.” “You ask me can I vote for a bill like this. No. Not only can I not vote for it, it’s laughable.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “A gimmick.” “You’re right, this piece of legislation they put down without really a committee process on it is a gimmick, a gimmick to get the next week of activity, and get some press out there.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “It will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.” “I would just like to add my strong voice to urging my colleagues to read this bill, to look at it and understand the inherent unfairness in it, the lack of significant deficit reduction, and the fact that it will not, although it is being touted as, it will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “It won’t decrease prices at the pump.” “There is a lot of talk right now about ending tax incentives for oil and gas industry, but the high profits right now of these companies are easy targets. But one thing Alaskans know, just because you have an easy target doesn’t mean it is the right thing to shoot. It won’t decrease prices at the pump for our families and small businesses. It will discourage companies, especially the independents, from domestic investment and job creation.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Will it create jobs? No. It will actually hurt job production in the United States.” “Why are we singling out one sector of one energy – you know, one part of the energy industry to repeal the subsidies when it will in fact have the opposite effect of reducing gasoline prices, which even its sponsors, one of its cosponsors said publicly for us not to be fooled. This will not reduce gasoline prices. So why are we doing it? Will it create jobs? No. It will actually hurt job production in the United States.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “The bureaucrats in [President Obama’s] administration are not listening. They are not – they are tossing up barriers in additional Alaskan oil and gas production every chance they get. Sadly, some of my colleagues in this body are not much better. Instead of addressing the problem with specific solutions, they are going for headlines by dragging energy company executives before committees or promising the roadblocks — or proposing that roadblock incentives for increased domestic energy consumption, some of which have been on the books for decade. Let’s stop the headline-grabbing and get serious about the energy security.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)