Harper voices opposition to energy bill

WASHINGTON — Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) made the following statement as a House Republican delegation prepares to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

“In today’s struggling economy, America cannot afford to gamble with a misguided energy policy. This is why I oppose the Democrats’ national energy tax and support an ‘all of the above’ energy bill. Harnessing new technologies is important, but Congress must not lose focus on increasing American energy from oil, natural gas, clean coal technology and nuclear power.

ÆI am for clean air, clean water and clean energy, but not at the unnecessary expense of the well being of Mississippi’s families and employers. There are better solutions than paying more taxes for more government and fewer jobs.

“I’ve joined Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and the House Republican leadership in co-sponsoring H.R. 391, which excludes carbon dioxide from the definition of the term ‘air pollutant’ in the Clean Air Act. Passing this bill is essential to halting the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon dioxide.”