Rob Portman Asks Lee Fisher to Sign Letter to Former VP Gore Denouncing Cap-and-Trade Energy Tax

Press Release

National Tax Could Cost Ohio Up To 100,000 Jobs And Will Raise Energy Costs

In a letter delivered today to Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher's campaign headquarters, Rob Portman asked that Lt. Gov. Fisher join him in signing a letter to former Vice President Al Gore to stop the cap-and-trade energy tax. The former Vice President will be in Columbus tomorrow to raise money for Lt. Gov. Fisher's campaign. Full text of the letter is below. The letter reads in part:

"As you know, Ohio families and businesses continue to struggle during this historic economic crisis. Since the beginning of 2007, our state's unemployment rate has nearly doubled to 10.1 percent, more than 400,000 Ohioans have lost work, and our manufacturing sector has shed more than 150,000 jobs. In November, Ohio could enter its 20th consecutive month of double-digit unemployment, with more Ohio families struggling to make ends meet, wondering when, or if, they will find a new job.

"Unfortunately, the Cap and Trade energy tax that you're promoting, which passed the House last year and is currently pending in the Senate, could cost Ohio 100,000 additional jobs we can't afford to lose. Studies show the Cap and Trade legislation will increase Ohio's energy costs by as much as 60% during tough economic times when families are already stretched thin.

"Mr. Vice President, while the two of us disagree on many things, we want to come together to ask that you put an end to your repeated calls for the passage of the House-passed Cap and Trade legislation, which would dramatically threaten Ohio's prosperity."

"Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has a unique opportunity to educate former Vice President Gore on how destructive the cap-and-trade energy tax will be on Ohio's economy," said Jeff Sadosky, Portman for Senate Communications Director. "We hope that Lt. Gov. Fisher will take this opportunity to showcase his bi-partisan credentials and sign this important letter that demonstrates a commitment to fight hard to protect Ohio working families."

Full Letter Text:

October 15, 2010

Former Vice President Al Gore

312 Lynnwood Blvd
Nashville, TN 37205

Dear Mr. Vice President:

As you know, Ohio families and businesses continue to struggle during this historic economic crisis. Since the beginning of 2007, our state's unemployment rate has nearly doubled to 10.1 percent, more than 400,000 Ohioans have lost work, and our manufacturing sector has shed more than 150,000 jobs. In November, Ohio could enter its 20th consecutive month of double-digit unemployment, with more Ohio families struggling to make ends meet, wondering when, or if, they will find a new job.

Unfortunately, the Cap and Trade energy tax that you're promoting, which passed the House last year and is currently pending in the Senate, could cost Ohio 100,000 additional jobs we can't afford to lose. Studies show the Cap and Trade legislation will increase Ohio's energy costs by as much as 60% during tough economic times when families are already stretched thin.

Mr. Vice President, while the two of us disagree on many things, we want to come together to ask that you put an end to your repeated calls for the passage of the House-passed Cap and Trade legislation, which would dramatically threaten Ohio's prosperity.

Ohio cannot afford to lose one more job. Ohio families cannot afford another month of wondering whether their local businesses will be among the next to close, heading for a state that won't be as dramatically affected by the Cap and Trade energy tax, and that they too, will be among the unemployed. Asking Congress to discontinue its pursuit of the job-killing Cap and Trade energy tax bill and instead pursue a pro-growth energy policy is a first step towards turning Ohio's economy around.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Respectfully,

Rob Portman

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