| Even Fellow Democrats Call Manchin-Backed Tax Hikes “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, West Virginians are reminded that not only is liberal U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) 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 supporting President Barack Obama’s new energy tax hikes. 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 West Virginia families and job creators, Manchin, Obama, and the liberal wing of the Washington 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 West Virginia’s families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why is Joe Manchin siding with President Obama to drive energy costs even higher with these proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “Yet again, Manchin and Obama’s liberal Washington agenda has put them in direct conflict with the interests of West Virginia 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 Manchin and Obama’s proposal “laughable,” and have made clear that the tax hikes will “cost thousands of jobs” and “increase our dependency on foreign oil.” Sadly, this is not the first time Joe Manchin has displayed his enthusiasm for tax hikes and high gas prices: as Governor, Manchin proposed and signed a bill requiring electric companies to curb coal use by 25 percent, a similar requirement to the federal cap-and-trade bill. In Washington, Manchin has dependably supported President Obama’s efforts to raise income tax rates, and has continued to support ObamaCare, which raises taxes by $570 billion. |
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| Manchin: “We Should Reform Tax Policies That Continue To Subsidize Oil Companies Even As The Price Of A Barrel Of Oil Continues To Climb And Profits Are At A Record High. Wouldn’t it make more sense to make these subsidies available only when the cost of production exceeds the price of a barrel of oil? That’s a commonsense approach that keeps us safe, ensures stable and steady production and doesn’t force taxpayers to fill the bank accounts of major oil companies.” (Senator Joe Manchin, “Manchin’s Message From The Hill To The Mountains: Relieving Pain At The Pump, A Commonsense Approach To Reducing Gas Prices,” Press Release, 5/13/11)
As Governor, Manchin Proposed And Signed A Bill Requiring Electric Companies To Curb Coal Use By 25% A Similar Requirement To The Federal Cap-And-Trade Bill. “Raese points to House Bill 103, a bill proposed and signed by Manchin last year. The bill requires electric companies to curb the use of coal by 25 percent in the next 15 years. Companies must use renewable energy sources or find credits elsewhere. The bill is very familiar to one of the parts of the federal cap and trade bill, which calls for a 20 percent reduction by 2020.” (Kallie Cart, “Manchin vs. Raese On The Coal Controversy,” WSAZ, 9/14/10)
“Despite Some Of The Attacks On Obama As An Anti-Coal Liberal, Manchin Said He’s Confident That West Virginians Will Benefit From An Obama Presidency. ‘I Feel Very Comfortable Working With Him,’ Manchin Said. ‘I Talked To My Colleagues, Governors Around The State That Have Coal. We’re Going To Form A Coal Coalition And Work With Him. He’s Been Very Receptive.’” (Jake Stump, “Manchin Pledges To Keep Building Economy,” The Charleston [WV] Daily Mail, 11/5/08)
MANCHIN: “They’re Going To Have To Pay For The Carbons, Whether Cap And Trade Or Whether It’s In A Carbon Tax.” (CNBC, 11/3/08)
Manchin Now Says He “Strongly Disagree[s] With President Obama” On Cap-And-Trade. “‘I just so strongly disagree with President Obama and his administration’s approach to cap and trade,’ Manchin says. ‘Their environmental approach by not taking a balanced approach.’” (Kallie Cart, “Manchin vs. Raese On The Coal Controversy,” WSAZ, 9/14/10)
Manchin’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) |
