POSITION PAPER
ENERGY POLICY (GLOBAL WARMING/CAP AND TRADE)
Energy is the lifeblood of our economy. Energy sustains our standard of living and way of life. Virtually every aspect of American life is dependent upon the abundant, stable supply of low-cost energy.
As a candidate for Congress, I support bold commonsense policies to empower the private sector to develop all available energy resources for the American people. My conservative philosophy on this key issue contrasts sharply with that of my liberal Democrat opponent, Tim Walz, as well as State Representative Randy Demmer, who voted at the federal and state levels, respectively, for global warming/Cap and Trade legislation.
Both the national and Minnesota Cap and Trade schemes are liberal bills designed to restrict fossil fuel consumption, place arbitrary limits on carbon emissions, raise taxes, and increase the cost of energy to “save the earth” from so called man-made global warming.
As your Congressman I will never vote for such legislation, but instead will fight for realistic pro-American energy policies that are based upon free-market capitalism. Flatly stated, I support the exploration and development of every conceivable energy source, and I reject federal and state interventions that arbitrarily limit the use of energy, choose winners and losers in the marketplace, and handicap economic prosperity and job creation.
Contrary to the claims of liberal politicians and media sources, the United States is blessed with the natural resources and technological means to become energy self-sufficient and keep energy costs at reasonable levels.
In fact, according to the Congressional Research Service, the United States has more fossil fuel energy at its disposal than any nation on earth [see: www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40872.pdf]. But to be successful, we must eliminate suffocating federal and state regulation and unleash our innovative private sector to develop our nation’s vast oil, gas, coal, methane, and oil shale reserves; dramatically increase the use of nuclear power; provide market-based incentives for conservation; and, develop renewable and emerging energy technologies.
As a conservative Republican, I was deeply disappointed that my party failed to move the United States closer to energy self-sufficiency when we controlled the U.S. House, Senate and White House this past decade. While the GOP’s lack of achievement in the energy arena was an unmitigated disgrace; the liberal, high-tax, anti-growth energy policies being forced upon us by President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and devoted followers like Tim Walz, stand as a complete disaster in the making.
No draconian legislation poses a greater threat to our economy and way of life than the Cap and Trade bill (H.R. 2454) voted for by Tim Walz. H.R. 2454 is designed to restrict the use of fossil fuels, limit carbon emissions, force the use of renewable energy sources, and impose a European-style socialist scheme to raise taxes and energy costs. I support renewable energy, but prematurely turning our economy and way of life over to unproven, unreliable and grossly inefficient energy sources is irresponsible, “feel-good” environmentalism.
Tim Walz’s liberal vote was a slap-in-the-face to southern Minnesotans. Cap and Trade will raise the cost of fuel, fertilizer and electricity for our farmers; undermine our manufacturers, business owners and medical care providers; and, take money out of the pockets of everyone who drives a vehicle and turns on a light switch. Virtually every product and service is tied to the consumption of energy, so Cap and Trade will impose the hidden tax of inflation upon the American people, causing particular hardship on the less affluent and those living on fixed incomes.
Exports – especially in the agricultural sector – create a great share of the wealth and jobs that support southern Minnesota’s economy. Yet, Walz’s Cap and Trade bill places U.S. exports at a huge competitive disadvantage, because the legislation only applies to the United States, not to China, Brazil, India and other high-growth competitors. That’s why I have branded Cap and Trade as: Unilateral Energy Disarmament.
Tim Walz apparently believes that Cap and Trade is needed to combat “global warming.” But the only climate Cap and Trade is going to cool is the business climate of the United States.
I am also concerned that Minnesota’s “Next Generation of Energy Act,” passed in 2007 with the support of one of my Republican competitors, will increase energy costs and harm our State’s economy. For all intents and purposes, the statute is a micro-version of the national Cap and Trade legislation. The law makes it all but impossible to build new coal fired power plants, thus forcing power companies to generate electricity from more expensive energy sources. Given that upwards of 90% of southern Minnesota’s electricity is delivered via coal-fired plants, the Minnesota Cap and Trade bill will undoubtedly lead to higher costs and less productivity.
The United States will never become energy self-sufficient by sending “go along, get along” politicians to Washington, D.C. Instead, we need authentic conservatives who will stand up for principle and fight Democrats and Republicans who block the free enterprise solutions needed to lessen, and ultimately eliminate, our dependence on foreign energy sources.
You can always count on me to apply my farm raised Minnesota values, Ronald Reagan conservatism and understanding of the Congress to defend you, the priorities of southern Minnesota, and the principles that made our country great.
Jim Hagedorn
Republican Candidate for Congress
Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District