Energy proposals risk Hispanic support in midterms

Texas has the second largest Latino population in the United States. It also has the most jobs in the oil and gas industry. This makes for a combustible interaction in light of the proposed tax increases to the domestic oil and gas industry. The current national unemployment rate is 9.6 percent while the rate for Hispanics in the U.S. sits at 12.2 percent. Both at the national level and in Texas, the Latino community is disproportionately affected by job loss and the sluggish economy. Taxing the American energy industry runs counter to efforts to revitalize our economy and disproportionately affects communities of color.

{mosads}Following the 1970s energy crisis, the United States has been shifting the balance between renewable energy sources and fossil fuels. Energy tax expenditures on renewable fuels have recently overtaken tax expenditures on fossil fuels. Tax credits in 2009 reached $9 billion for renewables while fossil fuels received $2.6 billion, less than a third as much. A diminishing reliance on fossil fuels is ensured through government incentives, but most importantly through a growing social awareness of the importance of green energy.

The U.S. is moving toward ‘green’ goals and, one day, will provide wholly clean energy. But we are not there yet. The driving goals of American energy policy are to provide environmentally safe energy while enhancing national security through a lessening dependence on foreign energy. In the short to medium term while renewable energy sources are being developed and refined, oil and natural gas ensure affordable and steady energy supplies. More specifically, domestic oil meets three key ends: national security, US jobs, and affordable energy for Americans.

In the midst of the deepest recession we have seen in 70 years, every effort should be made to balance environmental, security, and economic concerns. These goals are not mutually exclusive; however, recent legislation drives to make them so. For example, an amendment added earlier this month to the Senate’s ‘Small Business Jobs’ bill by Sen. Baucus repeals a tax credit currently available to all American manufacturers. If passed, this amendment would have the perverse effect of cutting US jobs, increasing our energy prices, and providing foreign firms a competitive advantage. I invite Sen. Baucus to come to Harris County, Texas and see for himself how his proposal fairs with the thousands of people whose livelihood depends on American oil and gas companies.

Americans from all backgrounds and socioeconomic classes have had to tighten their belts. However, among the Latino community there aren’t too many notches left on the belt. An increase in a basic commodity such as energy coupled with rampant unemployment further strains an already strained community. Taxes on the energy industry signify job loss and higher prices for a community that is already hurting.

Simply put, how do you fill up your car at $4.92 a gallon when you have just lost your job?

In 2008, over 67% of the Latino population voted for Barack Obama. Spending over 20 million to target their community alone, his campaign was the most aggressive to date in courting the Latino vote. Candidate Obama and now President Obama promised he would protect the jobs of Latinos. In this high stakes energy debate, he has an opportunity to do just that.