Watchdog Praises Resolution Condemning Carbon Tax Proposals

For Immediate Release

Contact: Courtney Mattison
(802-779-6416)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance praised House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W. Va.) for introducing a resolution identifying the many harms posed by carbon taxation. The resolution, which warns that carbon taxes destroy jobs and increase the cost of energy, has been introduced in every Congress since 2013. The release of the resolution this year, however, is particularly timely as Congressional Democrats voice their support for carbon taxes and “green” mandates despite significant economic costs and unintended consequences. President Biden has previously backed carbon taxation measures even though supporting a carbon tax would violate his pledge not to raise taxes on households earning less than $400,000 per year.

TPA President David Williams praised the resolution, noting, “Americans have endured another Tax Day reminding them that they are already over-burdened with taxes. And, despite positive news that millions of Americans are getting vaccinated every day, the economy remains fragile more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. Introducing a carbon tax would derail the recovery, resulting in higher prices for millions of businesses and households. Businesses are already spending more than they usually do trying to search for and retain skilled personnel. Further increasing their costs with a carbon tax would spell disaster for countless companies and entrepreneurs and force a painful spell of layoffs, salary cuts, and price hikes. Previous Congresses have wisely opted to reject this misguided proposal, and this Congress must do the same. Fortunately, Reps. Scalise and McKinley are leading the charge against this disastrous policy.”

Williams continued: “Every Congress has its fair share of ill-conceived proposals and unfortunately far too many get passed into law. But of all the poorly designed tax-and-spend proposals endured by the American people in recent years, a carbon tax would be the most destructive. Its broad-based nature would ensure that the price of everything from groceries to critical medications to gasoline would skyrocket. These price spikes would come as essential inputs such as gas and lumber are already becoming more expensive. Inflation spurred by reckless spending and trade policies is bad enough. Americans don’t need another tax to worry about at such a difficult time.”

Williams concluded: “For all the pain that a carbon tax would surely cause, the misguided policy will fail miserably in improving the environment. For example, pressuring households to switch to electric vehicles would only succeed in the unsustainable production and discarding of more environmentally destructive batteries for electric vehicles. Lawmakers can strive to improve the environment without a costly carbon tax. We thank Reps. Scalise and McKinley for pushing back against this terrible proposal.”

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a rapid response non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.