This is my first post on Red State – I’m looking forward to being a part of this community and I look forward to keeping you informed of the Club’s ongoing activities to defend economic liberty.

I want to use my first post to talk about HR 1380.

HR 1380, otherwise known as the “NAT GAS Act”, is bipartisan legislation (sponsored by 105 Democrats, 83 Republicans) supported by billionaire T. Boone Pickens that would provide billions of dollars in tax incentives for the production and use of natural gas vehicles. Several fiscal conservatives in the House have been duped into thinking this is a good bill but I hope that they immediately withdraw their names as co-sponsors. Putting aside the fact that market-distorting tax credits destroy the system of free enterprise, and are opposed by the Club for Growth, I wanted to highlight one specific part of the bill. Section 403 states:

It is the sense of the Congress that the Environmental Protection Agency[‘s] new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission regulations for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles should provide incentives to encourage and reward manufacturers who produce natural gas powered vehicles. Such regulations should take into account the petroleum reductions provided by such vehicles and also quantify all greenhouse gas emission reductions provided by natural gas powered engines and vehicles.

In other words, this bill basically lends credibility to the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, something opposed to by many Republicans in Congress. Therefore, the Club for Growth cannot help but conclude that anyone who remains a sponsor of this bill is a supporter of Obama’s desire to regulate climate change through the EPA.

Congressman Mike Pompeo of Kansas, a true fiscal conservative, has opposed the NAT GAS Act from the start, and has even introduced a resolution (H.Res. 267) to oppose all energy subsidies. We strongly encourage all fiscal conservatives who support HR 1380 to immediately remove their name, and instead, support Congressman Pompeo’s resolution.

Congressman Todd Akin and Congressman Steve Pearce have already wisely and courageously dropped their names from the NAT GAS bill, and should be applauded for doing so.

I’d love it if Red State users could join with Congressman Pompeo and the Club for Growth to help kill this bill.

Thanks for all you do to advance the cause of economic freedom.

Best,
Chris Chocola
President, Club for Growth