PR -- Americans for Prosperity: RGGI Economic Analysis “Shovel Ready”

Americans for Prosperity: RGGI Economic Analysis “Shovel Ready”

State’s Leading Pro-Taxpayer Group Slams Bogus Report on Regional Cap-and-Trade Scheme

BOGOTA, NJ – Americans for Prosperity is slamming a bogus report touting the benefits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Cap-and-Trade scheme.

The so-called economic analysis was funded by a number of ill-advised liberal groups such as the Merck Foundation, The Barr Foundation, The Chorus Foundation, and the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, all with a vested interest in keeping the cap-and-trade electricity tax in place in order to subsidize failed Solyndra-like green energy projects.

One of the report’s authors, Susan F. Tierney, is an Obama crony who co-led the DOE Agency Transition Team as part of the Obama/Biden Presidential Transition Project. Tierney is deeply ensconced in a number of left-wing environmental organizations. She sits on the board of “Clean Air-Cool Planet,” which, according to its own website, is “in the business of solving the global warming problem...” Tierney is also a director for solar panel manufacturer, Evergreen Solar, Inc., and renewable energy company, Ze-gen.

AFP state director Steve Lonegan blasted the report:

“This report is based wholly on philosophical projections by individuals with no understanding or respect for free-market economics. Their assumptions are wrapped in baseless science and flimsy economic modeling.

“Among the outrageous claims in this phony report is that $1 million in tax revenue generates $1.2 million in benefits for taxpayers,” said Lonegan. “Milton Friedman must be spinning today because according to this report, RGGI is the first tax in history to actually create jobs and prosperity with no ill effects on the people and businesses being taxed.

“But that doesn't matter to radical leftists. Logic in economics is irrelevant to them. To defend their irrational theories and ram through their far-left agenda, they attack logic and reason and substitute mystical intuition for ratiocination.

“This is a totally one-sided report propped up by environmental extremists, career bureaucrats, and Obama cronies who rely on the gravy train of taxpayer subsidies in order to subsist in their do-nothing jobs.

“This report gives new meaning to ‘shovel ready’,” continued Lonegan. “This fraudulent study ought to be shoveled into the ground where it belongs.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens to support restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP is more than 1.9 million activists strong, with activists in all 50 states. AFP has 34 state chapters and affiliates. More than 85,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial contribution to AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
Americans for Prosperity does not support or oppose candidates for public office.
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