Op-Ed: Legislative Wrap-Up

Op-Ed

Legislative Wrap-Up

By Rodney Alexander

Dear Friends,

Like most Americans, I love the Fourth of July and the patriotism it sparks in men, women and children throughout the country. When we celebrate Independence Day, nothing gives me more pride than to think about how our forefathers' love of freedom and their commitment to securing it endures today through the men and women serving in our armed forces.

I am looking forward to meeting with residents in our area during the Fourth of July district work period, as well as celebrating this important holiday with family and friends. But first I want to share with you some of the events that took place on Capitol Hill last week.

Cap and Trade Legislation:
While countless families in Louisiana continue to persevere through economic pressures, the House majority's proposal during a recession was to pass a national energy tax on each household that will lead to higher energy prices and substantial job losses.

On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454 by a vote of 219-212. This bill would set aggressive emission reduction targets, mandating that by 2050, carbon dioxide levels in the United States be reduced by 83 percent below 2005 levels. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirms that H.R. 2454 amounts to a national energy tax on every household in the United States. Other independent estimates conclude that a tax of this nature could cost families thousands of dollars.

Furthermore, according to the independent Charles River Associates International, H.R. 2454 would result in a "net reduction in U.S. employment of 2.3 million to 2.7 million jobs each year of the policy through 2030," even after the establishment of new green jobs.

Extra energy costs and further job losses are a high price to pay for an energy policy that will do very little to clean up our environment. In President Obama's own words, under cap and trade legislation, utility rates would "necessarily skyrocket."

It is clear that for the sake of our environment and our economic security, our nation needs and deserves a better plan than the cap and trade legislation. The American people want energy independence, not a national energy tax. Rest assured, House Republicans will continue to fight for a comprehensive energy solution that creates jobs and achieves energy independence and a cleaner environment.

My fellow Louisianans deserve better.

American Energy Act - A Responsible Alternative to Cap and Trade Legislation:
House Republicans have proposed the American Energy Act, an "all of the above" plan that will provide energy independence and promote a cleaner environment, creating more good paying jobs without imposing a national energy tax. The American Energy Act calls for more domestic exploration for oil, oil shale and natural gas. The plan renews America's commitment to clean and emission-free nuclear energy, establishing a goal of 100 new nuclear reactors over the next 20 years. According to the Department of Energy, the best way for utilities to reduce emissions is to increase their supply of nuclear energy. Revenue generated through the sale of domestic leases will be invested in renewable and alternative energy sources. The House Republican plan also encourages conservation by expanding tax incentives that already promote greater efficiency.

A national energy tax is not what Americans need. Independence is the necessity. The American Energy Act is the better solution.

Health care:
Americans have grown increasingly concerned with providing both their families and themselves with basic health care. Presently, health care costs continue to increase while people have fewer choices, leaving many to wonder whether the coverage they have today will eventually become a thing of the past.

In the midst of the current economic downturn, I understand the importance of an accessible, affordable and portable health care system. All efforts for reform should follow those guidelines. Decisions should be left up to the patients and their doctors - not the government.

In the next work period, the House is expected to consider a "discussion draft" of health care reform legislation. This is expected to include a government-run health plan that will cause as many as 120 million Americans to lose their current coverage, job-killing taxes on businesses, 32 entitlement expansion or extensions and 48 new bureaucracies or programs. A formal CBO cost estimate is not yet available, but the bill is expected to cost well over $1 trillion over 10 years.

The United States currently spends over $2.4 trillion on health care - nearly 17 percent of GDP - and the government accounts for almost half of all health care expenditures. The majority of Americans will agree - the U.S. health care system is in crisis.

The proposed health care overhaul will, in turn, deny access to medical care and lifesaving treatments. Many Americans would lose their current health care under this plan, allowing government bureaucrats to stand between patients and the care they need.

As your representative, I believe reform renders responsibility. I will continue to fight for the best interests of the 5th District as the health care reform debate continues.

Sincerely,

Rodney Alexander

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