Blumenauer on Release of Green Scissors 2010 Report: Cutting Waste, Protecting the Planet

Statement

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) today joined a bipartisan group of representatives and a coalition of leaders from the taxpayer, consumer, and environmental communities to unveil Green Scissors 2010: a report highlighting government programs and subsidies that are wasteful to taxpayers, harmful to the environment and bad for consumers.

Green Scissors 2010 targets four major areas for budget cuts: energy, agriculture and biofuels, infrastructure, and public lands.

Blumenauer, an environmental leader and member of the tax-writing Committee on Ways and Means, has introduced legislation to repeal a number of unnecessary oil tax subsidies, a recommendation made in Green Scissors 2010. His End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act would save taxpayers more than $30 billion over the next five years.

Following is a statement from Congressman Blumenauer:

"The environment is our most precious asset, and we cannot afford to squander it in land-giveaways or open it to some of the largest corporations on the planet for tax free drilling, mining, and logging.

"Green Scissors 2010 provides a path forward for eliminating government programs and subsidies that are wasteful to taxpayers, harmful to the environment and bad for consumers.

"I recently introduced legislation to end the billions of dollars in subsidies that go to the oil and gas industry, which Green Scissors highlights. In all, this legislation would repeal more than $30 billion over the next five years. If given the option, I am certain Americans would not choose to subsidize oil companies that made record profits in the last few years over investing in other priorities -- like educating our children, creating jobs, and rebuilding our communities.

"With this report, we now have many opportunities to cut federal spending while charting a responsible, sustainable course for the economy, our planet, and our stronger collective future."

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