Causer Applauds Court’s Rejection of New Energy Tax
HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), Republican chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy (ERE) Committee, applauded today’s Commonwealth Court decision invalidating the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and rescuing consumers from what would have been an estimated $2.8 billion tax.
“This is great news for all of us who rely on Pennsylvania energy to help heat our homes and power our vehicles, as well as for people who rely on the industry for their paychecks,” Causer said. “RGGI would have crushed our energy industry, leading to a drop in our energy supply and a substantial increase in costs for consumers. Now we have the opportunity to realize the full potential of the industry in the Commonwealth.”
As a longtime member of the ERE Committee, Causer said he and his fellow Republicans on the committee continually challenged the administration’s efforts to join the multi-state initiative through regulation. Every other state that chose to join RGGI did so as the result of legislative action.
“We knew it was wrong from the start,” Causer said. “RGGI is, without a doubt, a tax on consumers, and taxes have to originate through action by the Legislature, not the regulatory process. I’m pleased the court agreed.”
Representative Martin T. Causer
67th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
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