TPA Joins Coalition Urging Support of the RASP Act

The Taxpayers Protection Alliance has been a consistent critic of the expansion of regulatory power under various federal agencies. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are just two examples where this has been an issue. However, one agency that has been a standout in using the power of regulations in order to bypass Congress is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Earlier this month, in an effort led by Americans for Prosperity, TPA joined a wide range of groups at the state and federal level sending a coalition letter urging state legislators to fight the EPA’s new regulations designed to bring harmful anti-energy policies into the states by supporting the Reliable, Affordable and Safe Power (RASP) Act. The resolution would help fight the EPA on their bltant regulatory power grabs harming state economies.

You can read the full letter below:

An Open Letter to State Legislators:

Keep Energy Affordable and Protect the Reliability of the Energy Grid by Passing the RASP Act

December 4, 2014 Dear State Legislator,

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed unprecedented regulation on our nation’s energy producers and threatened Americans’ access to affordable and reliable energy solutions. On behalf of the millions of people we represent, we encourage you to support meaningful efforts to push back on the new proposed rules by passing the Reliable, Affordable and Safe Power (RASP) Act. This resolution will send a message to Washington that the States will not stand idle as their energy futures are threatened.

The EPA’s new proposed regulations, otherwise known as the Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants, amount to a federal takeover of the electricity system, which would have disastrous effects for both businesses and consumers. Estimates of the impacts of these regulations suggest it could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. Consumers will also see higher energy prices, straining family budgets during a time of stagnant wages. Even worse, higher energy prices disproportionately affect those who least can afford it. Beyond the increased costs of energy, moving away from traditional energy sources has the potential to threaten energy reliability.

In order to make these regulations work the Obama administration has flaunted the clear reading of the Clean Air Act raising serious legal questions from state Attorneys General from across the country. There are already legal challenges working their way through the courts and more are expected once the rule is finalized. This will take years to be finally resolved.

To address these challenges, the RASP Act takes a number of common sense steps to protect states and their citizens from harm brought on by the regulations. First, it prohibits a State from submitting or implementing a State Implementation Plan until the legal questions surrounding the new rules are resolved. This will prevent states from wasting precious resources until EPA’s legal authority is clear. Second, it would empower state legislatures, who are accountable to the people, to approve or deny the state implementation plan before it is submitted to the EPA. Lastly, it includes several provisions that instruct the state agencies developing the plans to ensure that it will protect the affordability and reliability of the state electricity system for its citizens.

We urge you to support the RASP Act in order to protect affordable and reliable energy solutions for American families and businesses.

Sincerely,

Brent Gardner, Director of Federal Affairs Americans for Prosperity 
Phil Kerpen, President, American Commitment 
Patrick Hedger, Director of Policy, American Encore 
Thomas Pyle, President, American Energy Alliance 
Coley Jackson, President, Competitive Enterprise 
Nathan Paul Mehrens, President, Americans for Limited Government 
Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform 
Jeffrey Mazzella, President, Center for Individual Freedom 
Francis X. De Luca, President, Civitas Institute 
Tom Brinkman Jr., Chairman, Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) 
Myron Ebell, Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute 
David Schnare, General Counsel Energy & Environment, Legal Institute 
Michael A. Needham, Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Action for America 
Seton Motley, President, Less Government 
Harry C. Alford, President/CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce 
Pete Sepp, President, National Taxpayer Union 
Kevin P. Kane, President, Pelican Institute for Public Policy 
Paul Gessing, President, Rio Grande Foundation 
Jim Martin, Chairman, 60 Plus Association 
David Williams, President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance 
Judson Phillips, Founder, Tea Party Nation