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Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
July 15, 2009
(202) 225-3761

Upton "Job Tracker" for Climate Bill Blocked by Party-Line Vote
Upton amendment to Energy and Water spending bill would have required Energy Dept. to detail number of jobs lost or created every six months as a result of cap-and-trade bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), ranking Republican of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, expressed disappointment that his amendment to require the Department of Energy to regularly report the number of jobs lost or created by the House-passed cap-and-trade bill (H.R. 2454), should the legislation be enacted, was blocked from consideration.  Upton’s amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act would have also required the Secretary of Energy to classify whether the jobs created or lost were permanent or temporary as well as identify sectors of the job market that have experienced a growth or decline in employment as a result.  The amendment was blocked last evening by a 7-to-4 party line vote in the House Rules Committee.  The Energy and Water spending bill is currently being debated by the House.

“As unemployment approaches double digits, the public has a right to know of cap-and-tax’s actual impact on the job market, should the reckless policy become law,” said Upton.  “It’s disappointing that the tired partisan politics of yesterday interfered with the supposed new era of greater transparency.  We had a unique opportunity to quantify the potential job losses or gains under cap-and-tax – but those folks who claim the bill will create jobs, despite the numerous studies that predict widespread job losses, would rather the public be kept in the dark.  We must remain steadfast in our efforts to protect working families from the predicted job losses and skyrocketing utility bills resulting from cap-and-tax.”

PDF of Upton’s amendment

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