U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) on the “Cap and Trade” legislation before the United States Senate:

“Hello. This is Congressman Hal Rogers.

“As we head into September I wanted to bring your attention to an important issue that will be facing the Congress in the upcoming months. “Cap and Trade” is a bill that passed the House in June without my support and is now up for debate in the U.S. Senate. Though the bill claims to protect our environment, in reality it is nothing more than a $646 billion “carbon tax” paid by every American, rich or poor and every business, small or large. Every time you turn on your lights, the tax would begin.

“I don’t need to remind you that gas prices are already rising and utility rates are going up. With nearly 11% unemployment in Kentucky, its no secret that our people are hurting.

“Yet despite the hard times America is in, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi are determined to pass this “Cap and Trade” bill that will charge consumers a fee just for turning on the lights, driving to work, or heating their home in the winter.

“Even worse, Kentucky will be hit the worst from this boondoggle because 95% of our power comes from coal, and this bill takes dead aim at coal. If this “Cap and Trade” bill becomes law, we will go from the lowest electricity rates in the nation, to the highest – an estimated increase of hundreds of dollars a year when fully implemented.

“Kentuckians can’t afford this national energy tax, nor do they want it; rather, the people of Kentucky want energy independence. That means sound investments in alternative energy technologies like clean coal, natural gas, and nuclear. It means passing an affordable energy plan that breaks our dependence on foreign oil and unlocks the vast energy resources sitting untapped on American soil and our coastlines.

“Let me know how you feel. Visit my website at halrogers.house.gov.”