Majority's "No Energy" Bill Will Raise Prices for Gasoline, Fail to Produce Any New Domestic Energy

Congressman John Boehner
February 26, 2008

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today opposed Democratic tax hike legislation destined to raise gasoline prices for American families. Boehner issued the following statement after House Democrats rejected a Republican plan to eliminate tax breaks for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez and permanently extend marriage penalty and child tax credit relief for middle-class families:

“Middle-class families and small businesses are feeling the squeeze from rising costs for gasoline, food, and other costs of living. Unfortunately, the Democrats’ ‘no energy’ bill will only make matters worse by raising taxes and setting the table for even higher prices at the pump. Worse yet, it actually carves out tax breaks for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez – courtesy of American taxpayers. This is unacceptable, and the Democratic leadership is irresponsible for bringing the bill to the House floor.

“I am disappointed that the Majority voted down a Republican proposal to eliminate the tax relief for Hugo Chavez and give it to those who need it most: middle-class American families. The largest tax increase in American history is on the horizon, and House Republicans are committed to stopping it. Today, we gave the House a chance to halt a portion of this massive tax increase by permanently ending the marriage penalty and keeping the child tax credit intact. House Democrats refused to join us and instead put themselves on the record in favor of higher taxes for married couples and middle-class parents. American families have been put on notice: in this broken Congress, the Democratic Majority is not looking out for their best interests.”

NOTE: House Democrats voted down a GOP proposal to make permanent two key tax relief initiatives in the 2001 and 2003 tax relief laws – the expanded child tax credit and marriage penalty relief – while removing Democrat-sponsored provisions that provide tax breaks for Chavez’s CITGO and raise taxes on millions of Americans.