Washington- Congressman Joe Pitts (PA-16) released the following statement after the Democrats on the House Energy Subcommittee cancelled the markup of their cap and trade plan.

“This legislation is all about punishment and taxation—and its target is the American people.  We have the technology to protect our environment without putting shackles on our economy and costing people their jobs.  Enough Democrats on the Energy Subcommittee realize that the authors don’t have the votes to pass their bill.

“It has been reported in the media that Democratic committee leadership is offering exemptions for polluters in specific Members’ districts in order to buy votes to pass their energy tax plan.   

“I fully expect, over the next week, to see arm-twisting and vote buying.  Instead of heavy-handed tactics, we should tear up this bill and start over with something that makes new nuclear construction economical; promotes wind, solar, hydro, waste-to-energy and other alternatives; and invests in next-generation sources like hydrogen and clean coal.  We should be relying on Yankee ingenuity instead of the heavy hand of big government.”

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