Senator Specter Defends Taxpayers of Pennsylvania
Defeated measure to raise taxes on American consumers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), voted against Harry Reid and for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, by voting against the advancement of the substitute energy bill that would have raised taxes on domestic energy companies.
This vote would have paved the way for a massive tax increase on American consumers. Had cloture succeeded, the Senate would have been able to move forward, without debate, on a tax increase and mandate-laden energy bill. Incorporated in the bill was a $22 billion tax provision, including a $13 billion tax increase on publicly-traded energy companies.
“Both the taxpayer and the shareholder could have suffered a massive blow yesterday,” stated Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, “Senator Specter’s vote was key to defeating this massive tax increase that could have resulted in higher fuel prices and a decrease in the value of millions of American’s retirement funds.”
The Senate rejected cloture by a vote of 59-40, making Sen. Specter’s vote critical. As a result the tax provision was stricken from the legislation, leaving mandated increases in renewable fuel production and a 40 percent increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy as the only provisions left in the bill.
“I commend Senator Specter for standing up to tax hiking liberals and adhering to his written commitment to oppose and vote against tax increases,” continued Norquist.