For Immediate Release – May 26, 2011

BOGOTA, NJ – A year-long campaign by Americans for Prosperity and the pro-taxpayer group’s army of 68,000 citizen activists to put an end to the job-destroying Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – aka “RGGI” – Cap & Trade scheme has resulted today in a tremendous victory for New Jersey taxpayers.

At a press conference this morning in Trenton, Governor Christie announced that he would use his executive authority, in the context of the state’s Energy Master Plan, to remove New Jersey from the ten-state compact which began in 2008 under then Governor Corzine.

Americans for Prosperity state director Steve Lonegan has issued the following statement in the wake of today’s announcement:

“Over the past ten months, the RGGI Cap & Trade scheme has been exposed as nothing less than a devious and deceptive tax. This is a program that has been stained by secrecy and open to exploitation by speculators looking to profiteer on the backs of ratepayers all while driving up electricity rates and contributing to the continued exodus of jobs and industry from our state.

“Today, Governor Christie has dealt Cap & Trade a death blow and taken a major step towards addressing New Jersey’s dismal business climate and putting New Jersey back on a path to prosperity.

“On behalf of the over 68,000 Americans for Prosperity citizen activists across the state, many of whom who have worked tirelessly to defeat Cap & Trade both on the federal level, as well as here in New Jersey, I commend Governor Christie for doing the right thing and pulling the plug on the RGGI scheme.”