House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) has reintroduced a resolution condemning a carbon tax, arguing that such a levy would be harmful to the economy.
The nonbinding resolution, offered by Scalise and Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) on Thursday, would state that it’s Congress’s opinion that “a carbon tax would be detrimental to American families and businesses, and is not in the best interest of the United States.”
The House previously approved a version of the resolution in 2016, with six Democrats supporting it and no Republicans opposing it.
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Carbon taxes have been supported by some liberals, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), as well as by some Republicans, such as James Baker, a former chief of staff to Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Supporters of the idea say it would be a market-based solution to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fight climate change. It could also raise revenue used to reduce the deficit or cut other taxes.
But opponents argue that it would raise prices on gasoline and consumer goods and hurt U.S. economic competitiveness.
“Our resolution will affirm the position of Congress that a carbon tax would run counter to the goals of American energy dominance and national security,” Scalise said in a statement.
The resolution is endorsed by a coalition of conservative groups that includes Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks and Tea Party Nation. The groups said in a letter that a carbon tax would undo many of the benefits of the GOP’s new tax law.
“A carbon tax would reverse many of these successes,” they wrote.