WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today voted against H.R. 2454, a bill to establish a permitting structure for U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that would raise over $600 billion in federal revenues in ten years.

“This bill lays an energy tax at the feet of every man, woman and child who flips on a light switch.  I get as angry as anyone when gas prices go up, because we don’t have a strong enough infrastructure of renewable and domestic fuels,” Emerson said.  “But this bill would intentionally increase the price of energy in American households and cars by 40 to 80 percent.  It’s an affront to American families and a threat to American jobs.”

Analysis by the Heritage Foundation estimates that the Eighth Congressional District in Southern Missouri could lose 3,715 jobs in 2012, along with $421 million in personal income that year.

“The consequences of this bill would be absolutely devastating for our entire nation, but the worst circumstances would fall on states like Missouri and rural districts like ours,” Emerson said.  “We have a hard-working economy, but it is an intense user of energy for the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.  If the cost of energy skyrockets to those Southern Missouri businesses, we will pay the price in jobs and income because we manufacture products and grow food for the rest of the nation.  This is not a problem anyone will have in Beverly Hills.”

Despite Emerson’s opposition, the bill was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 219 to 212.  The U.S. Senate is unlikely to take up the legislation as passed by the House, opting instead for its own measure.

“This debate is far from over. Opponents of this bill will continue to fight against artificial energy cost increases, and it is incredibly important that the rural areas of our country are heard from during this discussion,” Emerson said.