FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2009
Contact: Phil Kerpen or James Valvo (202) 349-5880

PITTSBURGH – As Americans for Prosperity (AFP) prepares to kick off its second annual RightOnline conference to unite conservative bloggers and online activists from across the country, the group was pleased to note that four Senate Democrats–Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad (N. Dak.)–have become vocal in their opposition to pushing a cap-and-trade energy tax this year.

AFP President Tim Phillips released the following statement:

It’s good to see that these senators are listening to the folks back home who oppose the higher gas prices, higher utility bills, and lost jobs that a cap-and-trade tax would bring. Having been in all four states for multiple AFP anti cap-and-trade events and rallies I have seen the massive grassroots opposition to this job killing legislation.

A cap-and-trade energy tax is one of the most serious economic threats to this country. The effect will be a crippling of all sectors of the economy as the cost of gasoline, electricity, natural gas and everything that is transported to market skyrockets. A cap-and-trade tax would hamper our economic recovery, would cost the nation millions of jobs and would drain family budgets.

We commend Senators Conrad, Dorgan, Lincoln, and Nelson for opposing moving forward with a cap-and-trade energy tax this year, and hope other Democrats will join them so the country can focus on the real and immediate challenges of creating jobs and getting the economy moving again. This fight is far from over and we will continue to make the case against cap-and-trade and any other energy tax.