Alabama’s Rural Communities Deserve to Know Why Bobby Bright Hasn’t Stood Up for Their Jobs
Alabama’s Rural Communities Deserve to Know Why Bobby Bright Hasn’t Stood Up for Their Jobs
Failing to Take a Stand on National Energy Tax, Will Bright Cave to Pelosi at the Expense of Jobs?
Washington- As Rep. Bobby Bright (D-AL) prepares to vote on the climate change bill in Congress this week, Speaker Pelosi is plotting to snag Bright’s vote for her costly, job-killing climate bill at the expense of middle-class agriculture jobs in Alabama. Despite House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson’s (D-MN) advocacy for the outspoken complaints of farm-state Democrats, Pelosi has completely disregarded the disproportionate burden this puts on the agriculture industry and its impact on middle-class jobs. As the fate of the agriculture industry and thousands of jobs lie in his hands, will Bright fall into Pelosi’s trap or will he listen to his constituents who are asking him to choose them over her job-killing agenda?
“The time has come for Bobby Bright to take a stand and explain whether he plans to support or oppose Nancy Pelosi’s National Energy Tax,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Alabama voters deserve to know whether or not Bright supports a policy that will have a devastating impact on rural communities and agricultural producers in his district. While the economy continues to lose jobs at a staggering rate, middle class families are struggling. The question is whether Bobby Bright wants to inflict further damage on Alabama’s economy in order to meet the political interests of the San Francisco Speaker.”
Thousands of Alabama workers in Bright’s district rely on the livestock industry to support their families. Both Chairman Peterson and Alabama workers have made it clear that this climate bill will have a devastating effect on agriculture jobs in their state and across the country. Is Bobby Bright among the crowd willing to stand up to Pelosi and protect these jobs?
The Alabama Farmers Federation wrote to Congress to express their opposition to the Democrats’ climate bill:
“This legislation will significantly increase the cost of production to family farmers and reduce our competitiveness abroad…. We are greatly concerned about the potential impact on our farmers’ input costs, including diesel fuel for tractors and other equipment, fertilizer costs which are sensitive to natural gas prices, propane for heating poultry houses, not to mention everyday utility costs…. This bill, however, will hurt families, drive small companies and farms out of business and stifle the current economic recovery.” (Letter to Rep. Bachus, June 8, 2009)
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President also wrote a letter opposing the bill:
“After careful consideration, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has decided to oppose the ‘American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,’… Economists have estimated that H.R. 2454 would cause farm income to drop anywhere from $8 billion in the short term to $50 billion long term…. NCBA simply cannot support a bill that would cause this kind of economic devastation…. Cattle producers will continue to work every day to protect and improve the environment so that they and future generations will be able to continue to live off the land and feed our nation, but NCBA must oppose any bill that could cause financial ruin to our members.” (Letter to Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Lucas, June 18, 2009)
Background:
“Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., said she’ll vote against the bill unless it undergoes major changes. Other rural Democrats, such as Minnesota Rep. Colin Peterson, who leads the agriculture panel, also have indicated their opposition, potentially dooming the ‘cap-and-trade’ initiative championed by President Obama.” (Ledyard King, “Cap-and-trade faces ag foes, Farm interests ‘left behind,’ Herseth Sandlin says,” Argus Leader, 6/11/09)
“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will roll the dice on a top priority this week, bringing a contentious climate change bill to the floor despite strong misgivings from her rank-and-file and an outspoken chairman who remains a major impediment. The speaker filed the legislation with the Rules Committee on Monday night, her spokesman said, even though its authors, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey, are still working out a deal with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson.” (Patrick O’Connor, “Nancy Pelosi to bring climate change bill to floor,” Politico, 6/23/09)
“House Democrats filed a 1,201-page energy package late Monday night and said they are confident that they will resolve all outstanding issues in time for a vote Friday…. Peterson had been negotiating for protections for the ethanol industry and agricultural interests under the cap-and-trade scheme, warning that he had the votes to kill the bill if farmers and rural areas weren’t protected.” (Steven T. Dennis, “House to Vote Friday on Climate Bill,” Roll Call, 6/22/09)