Gas Tax Increase and New Energy Tax Headlines Session
Most Republicans stood with taxpayers and working families, while most Democrats stood with higher taxes and against working families
Charleston, WV - The WV Legislature has passed a gas tax increase and a new energy tax today.
“The gas tax increase locks in a minimum gas tax rate of 32 cents per gallon. This is the 11th highest gas tax rate in the country. Our workers earn the 2nd lowest salary in the nation. And the gas tax hits low income workers the hardest,” explained Delegate Daryl Cowles.
Cowles continued, “It also blocks 2 scheduled gas tax reductions: one in 2010 and one in 2013. This is definitely a tax increase, and it is a tax increase that our residents can’t afford.”
“The total cost of the gas tax increase will be $114 million. It is unacceptable to raise taxes $114 million on our working families in the middle of a recession,” said the Republican from Morgan County.
“The new energy tax will be created by the mini cap and trade scheme we passed today. It will act like the national cap and trade scheme being pushed by President Obama and Congressional Democrats. It will also have similar results: less WV coal production, higher electricity rates, and fewer jobs,” said Delegate Jonathan Miller (R, Berkeley).
The Republican from Berkeley County continued, “President Obama and Congressional Democrats are doing enough to destroy the coal industry with their cap and trade bill. We don’t need to contribute to the destruction by passing our own version.”
“The best way to fight back against Obama’s War on Coal is to stand up for coal, not passing small versions of cap and trade in order to appease Obama. That’s like giving the school yard bully your peanut butter and jelly sandwich hoping he won’t take all of your lunch,” added Cowles.
“Adding to the frustration and disappointment over this gas tax increase and new energy tax is the fact that Governor Manchin has pledged to be responsible during this recession by not raising taxes. He’s already broken this pledge once. In April, we passed a $70 million tax increase on jobs in the middle of a recession,” argued Miller.
“Two weeks ago, Governor Manchin restated his pledge not to raise taxes during this recession. Yet, we are here at a special session trying to raise the gas tax and passing a new energy tax. We don’t need to help our Governor break his pledge a second time,” state Delegate Miller.
Most Republicans stood with taxpayers and working families, while most Democrats stood with higher taxes and against working families.
“We are proud to have stood firm with taxpayers and working families by fighting against a gas tax increase and an energy tax that raises electricity rates, harms the coal industry, and threatens job creation in WV. Our citizens don’t want a tax increase on gasoline during a recession. And they certainly don’t want an energy tax that will raise their electricity rates, harm coal, and threaten job creation,” said Delegate Jonathan Miller.
“Republicans are proud to stand on the side of taxpayers and working families during this special session. We are proud of what we have tried to do to help our taxpayers and our working families. We will continue to stand strong for our taxpayers and working families by fighting for accountable, responsible government,” concluded Delegate Cowles.
The special legislative session convened to take up these two bills and others should have ended yesterday, but Democrats wanted to raise taxes so bad they kept the Legislature in one extra day.
“Staying one more day to make sure these bad bills pass says something about our Democrat leadership in WV. They say they want to be responsible and not raise taxes. They say they support coal. But their insistence on passing these bills tells another story,” stated Delegate Daryl Cowles.
