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By a vote of 219 to 212, the House voted Friday evening to approve H.R. 2454, the "Cap-and-Trade" bill to reduce emissions of global warming gases. Rep. Petri voted against the bill.
Rep. Petri has issued the following statement:
"I believe that global warming is a serious concern, but I voted against the cap-and-trade bill because of the considerable negative consequences it would have on our state.
"With pulp and paper, food processing, foundries and printing, Wisconsin has the single most manufacturing-intensive economy in the country on a per capita basis. Our industries are already struggling and cannot afford added burdens at this time. Furthermore, my constituents would likely see their utility bills skyrocket while other parts of the country would see a windfall. In essence, our wealth would be transferred to the coasts which benefit from hydropower and other alternatives.
"While the impact of this bill would hit us particularly hard, it threatens considerable damage to the economy as a whole. It creates a maze of federal bureaucracies and red tape to administer its provisions, expands more than two-dozen federal agencies, creates a National Climate Service and vastly expands the power of the Environmental Protection Agency.
"Although we need to respond to climate change, we have to find a way to do it without jeopardizing our economy and global competitiveness. Without a strong economy, we won't be able to pay for the changes we need to make."
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