Randy Forbes Thoughts on the Passage of Cap and Trade

This afternoon following the passage of cap and trade Randy Forbes sent out an e-mail with his thoughts on the bill. Randy Forbes offered his New Manhattan Project as an alternative to the bill.

Friends -

Last night as many Americans began their weekend, the US House of Representatives was voting to saddle them and their families with a large additional tax burden through legislation, known as the cap-and-trade national energy tax.

The effects of this tax will be far reaching. It will impact American families in all parts of their daily lives – when they turn on a light switch, watch TV, mow their lawn, or run their dishwasher. Over the course of a year, the average family of four will see their energy costs rise by $1,200. Electric bills will rise by $754 per year and gasoline costs will rise by $596 per year. All total, an average family will to have to find an additional $100 in their monthly budgets to cover this new national energy tax - which is on top of the taxes already paid on energy bills.

This is wrong – especially now when so many have lost jobs and are just trying to make ends meet. I need your help as I continue to try to stop this burden on our families.

Businesses will feel the staggering cost of this legislation as well. Farmers and manufactures will be among those hardest hit. All total, the National Black Chamber of Commerce estimates this legislation will cost 2.5 million American jobs. Other estimates suggest anywhere between 1.8 and 7 million net American jobs could be lost. Many of these jobs will be shipped overseas. American businesses will face declining competitiveness as they struggle to compete with foreign companies whose products are not subject to this tax.

As the Wall Street Journal noted "Even as Democrats have promised that this cap-and-trade legislation won't pinch wallets, behind the scenes they've acknowledged the energy price tsunami that is coming. During the brief few days in which the bill was debated in the House Energy Committee, Republicans offered three amendments: one to suspend the program if gas hit $5 a gallon; one to suspend the program if electricity prices rose 10% over 2009; and one to suspend the program if unemployment rates hit 15%. Democrats defeated all of them."

Any glimmers of economic recovery in our recession are likely to be threatened by this new tax. Under this bill, already-strapped small businesses will face skyrocketing energy costs and will have less money to retain their current employees let alone create new jobs.

Sadly, even if one could overlook the crushing results of this bill on our economy, the legislation does not even meet its intended purpose. As the Washington Post reported yesterday, even environmental groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth oppose the bill saying it will not help our environment.

Last night I took to the floor and fought strongly against the passage of this national energy tax. I even introduced my widely-acclaimed New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence as an alternative. My bill would spur green energy innovation without raising taxes. The majority of my colleagues chose taxation, rather than innovation.

My constituents, however, overwhelmingly supported my position and my alternative to the national energy tax. Supportive emails and phone calls poured in my office all day.

The sad reality is that there are too few of us fighting to lower taxes and bring innovative bipartisan ideas before Congress. There are too few of us fighting against big government. There are too few of us fighting to preserve the individual freedom and liberties on which this great nation was founded. And those of us left will very likely face opponents next campaign year. I am writing to you today because I need your help to stay in Congress and to be your voice in Washington. This year, my campaign must rebuild our financial footing. If you believe in what I am doing in Congress would you please help us to do that?

Would you consider donating $20 to my campaign today? If you could do more, I would appreciate it. If you can only afford $10 now, I want you to know that your contribution makes a difference. Please also consider a monthly donation of $10 or $20. Individuals that give on a monthly basis form a powerful financial base for my campaign.

The cap-and-trade national energy tax must now be considered in the Senate. I’ll continue to fight against it and the tide of bailouts, runaway spending, and taxation in Washington. Let's hope we can stop this terrible bill.

As always, I remain, yours in service,

Randy

PS – The list of organizations opposed to the cap-and-trade national energy tax was staggering. Below is just a partial list. Would you forward this email to a friend that is a member of one of these organizations – or post this email on your Facebook page via the link below? Please let your concerned friends know of my position, of your support for me, and ask them to also support my campaign. We need your help.

Tea Party Patriots
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
American Farm Bureau Federation
60 Plus Association
Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Tax Reform
Citizens Against Government Waste
Club for Growth
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
National Taxpayers Union
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC)
Concerned Women for America (CWA)
Eagle Forum
Family Research Council Action
Focus on the Family
National Cotton Council

Political contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Corporate contributions are prohibited. To comply with federal law we must use our best efforts to report the name, address, occupation and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200. Contributions from foreign nationals and minors are prohibited. An individual may contribute $4,800 ($2,400 primary, $2,400 general).

Cuccinelli on the Issue of Taxes

The first in a series of issue positions

from the Cuccinelli for Attorney General Campaign

Now that delegates from across the Commonwealth have been elected to represent their county/city committees at the 2009 Republican State Convention, the Cuccinelli for Attorney General campaign is starting a series of emails that spell out Ken's positions - and his voting record - on these issues.

As Ken is the ONLY candidate for Attorney General with an actual voting record on important matters he may face as Attorney General, we want Delegates to know the facts behind Ken's positions. Unfortunately, we expect Ken's vast voting record to be attacked, grossly distorted and taken out of context. As the front runner, Ken expects it.

We ask you to keep these emails as your reference and your backup when discussing important issues, and dismissing the inevitable distortions which sometimes plague our political system.

We felt it appropriate to start this discussion on TAX day, a/k/a, Democrats' Day. Not because we believe we shouldn't pay ANY taxes - that's not realistic. But because we pay too much, and all to feed an ever-expanding and out of control government - local, state and federal.

As a member of the Virginia State Senate representing Fairfax County, Ken is the only candidate for Attorney General with a voting record OPPOSING TAX INCREASES, opposing government intrusion and protecting our property rights.

Perhaps Grover Norquist, the renowned national conservative and President of Americans for Tax Reform summed it up best:

"Senator Cuccinelli is the strongest and sometimes the only voice in opposing tax increases of all kinds in the legislature. He is working behind the scenes to try and bring his colleagues back into the anti-tax camp."

As a State Senator, Ken has:

• Led the fight against former Governor Mark Warner's 2004 tax increase, the largest in Virginia history;
• Led the successful defeat in the Virginia Senate of Governor Kaine's proposed tax increases in 2006 and 2008;
• Proposed measures to shift money within the current budget to transportation WITHOUT raising taxes;
• Led the successful fight against the 2002 sales tax increase in Northern Virginia;
• A 100% voting record as rated by the National Federation of Independent Business;
• Been named a "Hero of the Taxpayer" by Americans for Tax Reform.

As your next Attorney General, Ken has pledged to continue to support a favorable environment for starting and growing business in the Commonwealth, including using his political influence to fight tax increases. And while protecting Virginia consumers, Ken will direct the Attorney General's office in a manner that is as minimally burdensome on our businesses and economy as possible.

RNC Candidates debate

Tomorrow at 1 PM Americans for Tax Reform will host a debate between the candidates for RNC Chair.  You can watch it live online.  This is an important debate as it is the only debate, and will hopefully show differences between the candidates.  It is also important because some of the committee members, including Jeff Frederick--The RPV Chairman--, have not yet decided who to vote for.  

The chair is elected by the 168 Republican National Committee members and the election is slated to take place on January 28th.  The current list of candidates is incumbent Mike Duncan, Saul Anuzis, Ken Blackwell, Katon Dawson, Chip Saltsman, and Michael Steele.  Hopefully whoever is elected will work hard and successfully rebuild the party in time for the midterm elections.  We need a chairman who can raise money and create a strategy that engages and builds the grassroots while using new technology, and developing more useful technology.  

If you are interested in my thoughts on the race for RNC chair you can read an article I wrote earlier relating to the RNC Chair race.  Hopefully the committee members make a wise choice on behalf of the party.

What do you think about the race?  Please vote in my poll which will be up till the new chair is chosen, and comment and let everyone know who you support and why.