Anderson, Indiana is one of the cities in Congressman Pence's district and was profiled in a front page New York Times piece about the legacy thus far of President Obama's first 100 days in office and one of the key legislative priorities of his administration: the economic stimulus package:
This region still has a strong conservative streak. It is represented in Congress by Representative Mike Pence, a Republican and outspoken advocate of smaller government and lower taxes, positions that put him at the opposite end of the spectrum from Mr. Obama. Several Republicans here said the furious pace of spending would complicate Mr. Obama’s re-election efforts.
There is also a video package that was put together in the course of the writing of this article that is worth a watch HERE.
Congressman Pence has been vocal on the topic of cap and trade legislation recently, calling it an economic declaration of war on the Midwest. In his post on RedState, Congressman Pence notes that
Indiana, in particular, would be one of the hardest hit states in the nation because it gets 94 percent of its energy from fossil fuels.
Let me be clear: cap and tax is a job killer.
With small businesses and factories being forced to cut jobs or close their doors, more Americans will be out of work and unable to support their families. Those few businesses and factories that manage to stay open will only do so by passing their increased energy costs on to consumers.
President Obama himself admitted that the plan will cause energy prices to rise at the expense of the consumer. In an editorial board meeting with the San Francisco Chronicle during the presidential campaign he stated, “Under my plan of a cap and trade system electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket … that will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers…”
"I think, rightly understood, the cap and trade legislation represents an economic declaration of war on the Midwest by liberals in Washington, D.C.," Pence said in a telephone interview.
The East and West coasts will be the least impacted, Pence said, noting that the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 was drafted by Democratic Reps. Henry Waxman of California and Edward Markey of Massachusetts.
"I really believe Democratic climate change legislation will cap growth and trade jobs," Pence said.
Cap-and-trade normally means capping emissions of greenhouse gases and allowing companies to trade permits to emit greenhouse gases.
The legislation would essentially cap carbon dioxide emissions from coal-burning power plants, "the kind of plants Indiana and most of the Midwest are most dependent on for our electricity needs," Pence said.
"If ever there was a time that Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois were unable to take the impact of what amounts to a national energy tax, it's a time like this," Pence said. "The last thing we need is higher energy costs."
The House Republican Conference has put together a video highlighting the harmful effects that the cap and trade legislation will cause. It will cap growth and trade jobs:
Congressman Pence hosted a special order hour last night, which takes place after all official business has been wrapped up, when Members are able to come to the floor to discuss whatever topic they like.
Congressman Pence, as the Chair of the House GOP American Energy Solutions Working Group, led the time in talking about energy legislation, most notably the so-called "cap and trade" legislation:
...Bright Automotive, an Anderson-based company, came to Capitol Hill today to explain, demonstrate and make the case for their new plug-in hybrid vehicle called the IDEA.
"This is the IDEA that we believe will change the world," CEO John Waters said as the cloth was pulled off the silver-grey, mini-van-sized vehicle sitting one block from the Capitol.
The start-up hopes the attention will translate into government help to begin producing the vehicles for sale for government and commercial fleets.
Bright Automotive says the van gets 100 miles per gallon and will reduce CO2 emissions by 16 tons annually. Backers say the vehicle will do more than save drivers gas money. It could soon bring thousands of jobs to Indiana.
Bright Automotive is the latest entrant in a growing field of high-tech automotive startups, many of which have placed their bets on pricey, high-end vehicles. Tesla Motors, based in Silicon Valley, sells the $109,000 Roadster electric car and recently unveiled a much cheaper sedan, the Model S. EV Innovations unveiled two new electric sports cars at the New York International Auto Show earlier this month.
...Congressman Mike Pence appeared on CNBC's "Power Lunch" program to discuss economic issues, including cap-and-tax:
HOST: LET'S TALK TO ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HELP SET THE POLITICAL REALITY. LET’S BRING IN OUR NEXT GUEST TO FURTHER ADDRESS THIS TOPIC. WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME THE THIRD HIGHEST REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE, CONGRESSMAN MIKE PENCE OF INDIANA. GOOD TO SEE YOU CONGRESSMAN.
MR. PENCE: GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS, GREAT TO BE ON POWER LUNCH.
HOST: YOU WEIGH IN ON EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE SEEING WITHIN THE BANKING SYSTEM TODAY. THERE IS TALK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CONVERT THESE PREFERED TO COMMON. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE DILUTION THERE FOR SURE AND RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING BACK THE MONEY. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
MR. PENCE: WELL MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT THOSE OF US THAT OPPOSED THE WALL STREET BAILOUT FROM THE BEGINNING ARE PUTTING ONE MORE ARROW IN OUR QUIVER. THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE WERE BETTER ALTERNATIVES ON CAPITOL HILL THAT WE COULD HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE LIQUIDITY CRISIS IN THE MARKETS BY SUSPENDING THE REPATRIATION TAX AND WE COULD HAVE PROVIDED FOR THIS CRISIS IN TOXIC ASSEST BY CREATING AN FDIC-STYLE PROGRAM WHERE THESE FIRMS WOULD BUY GOVERNMENT INSURANCE. YOU ASK ME WHAT I MAKE OF ALL THIS AND THIS IS THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR. WHAT WE NEED, AS REPUBLICAN LEADER JOHN BOEHNER SAID RECENTLY, WE NEED AN EXIT STRATEGY FROM THESE BAILOUTS. REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE BRINGING FORWARD IDEAS TO STAND FOR THOSE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO WERE INSPIRED ON THIS AIR, JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO, TO GATHER LAST WEDNESDAY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY KNOW WE CAN'T BORROW AND SPEND AND BAIL OUR WAY BACK TO A GROWING ECONOMY.
HOST: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A JAMIE DIMON OF J.P. MORGAN, CHASE, OR ANY OTHER LARGE BANKER WHO TOOK THAT MONEY TO BE PATRIOTIC, TO HELP OUT THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE THEY WERE ASKED TO DO THAT, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T NEED THE T.A.R.P. MONEY. NOW THEY ARE HEALTHY, THEY SAY, AND THEY WANT TO GIVE THAT MONEY BACK AND THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING BACK IN AND SAYING WE MIGHT PUT REQUIREMENTS ON THAT. IS THAT FAIR? IS THAT THE APPROPRIATE WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GO ABOUT REPAYING THE T.A.R.P., WHICH JPMORGAN CHASE IS VIEWING IT AS AN EXIT STRATEGY FOR ITSELF TO GET OUT OF THE T.A.RP. SITUATION?
MR. PENCE: NOT ONLY IS IT NOT FAIR, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY OUTRAGEOUS. THE REALITY IS THAT MANY OF THESE BANKS, AS YOUR REPORT, WERE CALLED INTO THE WEST WING OF THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION AND TOLD THAT IT'S YOUR DUTY, WHETHER YOU NEED THE T.A.R.P. MONEY OR NOT, TO TAKE THESE FUND. NOW THERE ARE BEING ADDED NEW LAYERS, NEW OBLIGATIONS. THERE'S AN OLD ADAGE THAT SAYS WHEN YOU DO A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, YOU'RE ALWAYS A JUNIOR PARTNER. THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS WHOLE THING IS BECOMING ESSENTIALLY A WATCH-WORD FOR ANY FUTURE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU GET IN A DEAL WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEY CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE DEAL. WE'VE GOT TO GET AWAY FROM THESE BAILOUTS; THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO GET AWAY FROM THEM.
HOST: ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK CAP AND TRADE. I'M REALLY ALARMED AND WORRIED ABOUT THIS EPA ACTION WHERE JUST OVERNIGHT THEY DECIDED THAT POLLUTIONS AND CARBON DIOXIDES, THAT I BREATHE A LOT OUT OF MY MOUTH A LOT OF HOT AIR, ARE NOW HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
MR. PENCE: WELL, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, AND WE COMMENTED ON THIS ABRUPT DECISION LAST FRIDAY, WHICH SEEMS TO MANY OF US ON CAPITOL HILL TO BE A PRECUSSER TO A MASSIVE NATIONAL ENERGY TAX. NOW YOU’VE GOT THE EPA ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT CARBON DIOXIDE REPRESENTS A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT WILL SET IN MOTION DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL, AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, BRINGLING FORWARD A CAP AND TRADE BILL WHICH LITERALLY COULD SEE THE UTILITY RATES OF EVERY AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD GO UP BY MORE THAN $3,100 PER YEAR. I'VE BEEN ASKED TO LEAD A WORKING GROUP AMONG REPUBLICANS TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVES TO THE CAP AND TRADE DEAL.
HOST: CAN YOU GIVE US A FOR INSTANCE?
MR. PENCE: WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF OUR TEAM, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WE'RE FOR CLEARER AIR, WE THINK YOU CAN PURSUE POLICIES THAT WILL PROMOTE CLEAN AIR TECHNOLOGIES WITHOUT PASSING ESSENTIALLY A NATIONAL ENERGY TAX. LET ME TELL YOU, BEING FROM INDIANA, GUYS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DETAILS OF THIS CAP AND TRADE PROPOSAL, AND YOU REALIZE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS GOING TO BE BORNE IN THE MIDWEST, WHERE I'M FROM, THIS AMOUNTS LITERALLY TO AN ECONOMIC DECLARATION OF WAR BY THE WEST COAST AND EAST COAST ON THE MIDWEST. REPUBLICANS ARE DETERMINED TO OFFER POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO THIS CAP AND TRADE BILL, BUT THE FIRST THING WE ARE GOING TO DO IS NOT ALLOW LIBERALS ON CAPITOL HILL AND THIS ADMINISTRATION TO RAISE A NATIONAL ENERGY TAX THAT FALLS PRINCIPALLY ON THE INDUSTRIAL MIDWEST THAT RELIES SO MUCH ON COAL.
HOST: CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
MR. PENCE: THANK YOU GUYS.
Congressman Pence also appeared on FOX News' program "Your World with Neil Cavuto" to discuss the Tax Day TEA Parties and what they represent:
...there have been numerous press reports about Congressman Pence's experience at the Indiana State House of Representatives. Channel 13 News (WTHR) in Indianapolis has a report on it that is an accurate representation:
The third highest ranking Republican in the US House of Representatives is an important voice in Washington, but Congressman Mike Pence's voice was silenced in the State House of Representatives.
It is almost a daily occurrence. Race car celebrities like Scott Dixon and various high school students from all across the state are regularly honored for their achievements on the floor of the House. Lawmakers certainly had time a few weeks ago to welcome Miss America. In fact, House Speaker Pat Bauer (D) had time to get a quick picture with Indiana's own Katie Stamm.
So imagine the surprise when Minority Leader Brian Bosma approached the speaker to ask permission to recognize Congressman Mike Pence Wednesday, and was denied.
If Congressman Pence had been given the opportunity to speak, his remarks would have gone something like this:
Mr. Speaker, Leader Bosma, and my fellow Hoosier public servants, I appreciate the opportunity to share just a couple of minutes with you about an issue of great concern to all Hoosier citizens. It is not a Republican issue. It is not a Democrat issue. It is an issue that crosses the partisan divide and unites many of us in our effort to protect Hoosier consumers and taxpayers.
Under the guise of protecting the environment, the so-called “cap and trade bill” will increase taxes on every American who uses any form of energy and would have a devastating impact on the Indiana economy and Hoosier taxpayers. It should be called a national energy tax. Washington politicians love it because they can claim that they are taxing polluters when in effect they are actually taxing middle class American families and workers.
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal pointed out the unjust burden this proposal would have on Indiana. The article states, “But the greatest inequities are geographic and would be imposed on the parts of the U.S. that rely most on manufacturing or fossil fuels -- particularly coal, which generates most power in the Midwest, Southern and Plains states… Coal provides more than half of U.S. electricity, and 25 states get more than 50% of their electricity from conventional coal-fired generation.” According to the Energy Information Administration, Indiana would be one of the hardest hit states in the nation because we get 94 percent of our energy from fossil fuels, particularly coal.
Friends and colleagues, we cannot allow the same Washington politicians who are already hitting us with high taxes and out of control spending to impose another mandate upon our citizens – a mandate which benefits the east and west coast, while slamming the Hoosier heartland.
While this plan may be well-intentioned, it clearly does more harm than good, specifically when it comes to our nation’s small businesses who are struggling to keep their doors open during this economic recession.
In short, the “cap and trade” bill is a job killer. And those against it come from both political parties.
With small businesses and factories being forced to cut jobs or close their doors, more Americans will be out of work and unable to support their families. Those few businesses and factories that manage to stay open will only do so by passing their increased energy costs onto consumers.
President Obama himself admitted that the plan will cause energy prices to rise at the expense of the consumer. In an editorial board meeting with the San Francisco Chronicle during the presidential campaign he stated, “Under my plan of a cap and trade system electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket … that will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers…”
The effect of this massive tax increase will be felt by every American. According to cost analysis of similar cap-and-tax proposals, the total energy bill for the average American household will increase by up to $3,128 per year. At a time when families across the heartland are hurting, the last thing they need is to be burdened with even more punishing taxes.
A study by the Heritage Foundation states that the U.S. GDP would shed at least $155 billion in just a single year, and cumulative gross domestic product losses could be at least $1.7 trillion after 2018. In this time of economic turmoil, Congress and the President should be promoting legislation that increases our economic growth, not stunts it. This plan sends our nation in the wrong direction, and it sends the wrong message to our world creditors.
Recently I was honored by being named Chairman of the Energy Solutions Working Group in the U.S. House. Next month we will be conducting hearings across the country, including Indianapolis. The purpose of the group is to study and propose ways that we can work together to increase American energy production, encourage greater efficiency and conservation, and promote the use of alternative fuels. Together we can find common ground in our battle for energy independence without placing an additional burden on Hoosier consumers.
While we share concerns for our environment, a more productive option would be to encourage technological advancements that reduce pollution. We need to find common ground in promoting solutions that can work rather than punishing American families. Thrusting more taxes on Americans during a steep recession will only cause more economic hardship. Together, let us engage on behalf of Hoosier citizens in what amounts to an economic war on Indiana and this region.
Again, I want to thank my colleagues in the Indiana General Assembly, in both parties, for the service you and your families render to our state and nation every day. May God bless each of you as you continue to serve Him and this great state.
