News

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio announced that he is a co-sponsor of the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 introduced by U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing cap-and-trade regulations. The legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI). Senator Rubio is one of 42 co-sponsors in the Senate.

“At a time when Florida families and businesses are already struggling with high unemployment and slow economic growth, the last thing we need is unaccountable bureaucrats in Washington imposing an energy tax through regulation that will increase electricity and gasoline prices. This bill not only protects Florida’s families but will also eliminate some of the uncertainty preventing job creators from expanding their businesses and employing more people. Floridians in the last election sent a message that Congress should not pass a cap-and-trade system and now we must ensure that unelected bureaucrats in the Obama administration don’t try to undermine the will of the American people,” said Senator Rubio.

If implemented, the EPA’s regulations would have the effect of making electricity and gasoline more expensive for Florida families and businesses. The Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 leaves all of the essential provisions of the Clean Air Act intact, but prevents attempts to twist the law to regulate what Congress never intended.