FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 29, 2009
Contact: Stuart Jolly (405) 974-5164 or Phil Kerpen (202) 349-5880

EDMOND-The Oklahoma chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-OK) today applauded Speaker of the House Chris Benge (68th District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” By doing so, Benge pledges to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said AFP-OK State Director Stuart Jolly. “When leaders like Speaker Benge take a stand and show that they won’t be bullied by big government advocates, all Oklahomans win. We encourage all of Oklahoma’s elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign the pledge.”

Last year, proposed cap-and-trade legislation on the federal level, introduced by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA), is scored by the Congressional Budget Office as a net revenue increase of $1.2 trillion within just the first 7 years the bill is in effect.

“Using the guise of climate change to transfer dollars from hard-working citizens to bureaucratic big government is unacceptable,” said Jolly. “Regardless of their stance on global warming, this should be common ground for all of our elected officials at all levels of government.”

Oklahoma stands to lose up to 21,000 jobs by 2020 and a reduction in gross state product of up to $2.1 billion per year, in the same period. Additionally, gas and electricity prices would soar over 21 percent and 32 percent respectively, according to a study by the American Council on Capital Formation.

The pledge is available online at www.NoClimateTax.com. AFP does not endorse candidates. All elected officials and candidates are encouraged to sign the pledge and go on the record in opposition to using the climate change issue to increase taxes and grow the size of government.