For Immediate Release – February 7, 2013 

Americans for Prosperity: See, We Told You So—Here Comes the RGGI Electricity Tax Hike

NJ Ratepayers Spared from Latest Manipulations of Cap-and-Trade Scheme

BOGOTA, NJ – Americans for Prosperity, the state’s leading pro-taxpayer group, says New Jersey ratepayers have been spared from a massive tax hike on their electricity bills thanks to Gov. Christie’s decision to leave the failing Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Cap-and-Trade scheme —aka RGGI.

RGGI bureaucrats announced today plans to impose a 45% reduction in the established cap, dropping the limit of allowable CO2 emissions from 165 million to 91 million tons.

“The central planners at RGGI are admitting that this scheme has been nothing but a failure,” said Steve Lonegan, AFP-New Jersey state director. “Electricity consumers have been paying a job-killing tax with zero benefit. Now ratepayers in the remaining nine RGGI states are going to be walloped thanks to this diktat from a bunch of unaccountable bureaucrats to cut the emissions cap almost in half.”

“Americans for Prosperity sounded the alarm bell on the RGGI scheme because this is exactly one of things we feared: consumers would be socked with electricity tax hikes from a clandestine, rogue governmental agency, while in effect having no representation; no voice whatsoever in the decision.”

“The original RGGI targets have been met and surpassed as innovations in the energy industry have led to increased reliance on lower-priced natural gas over coal,” added Lonegan. “The RGGI schemers should be declaring ‘Mission Accomplished’, but instead they are now moving the goal posts and sticking it to consumers in order justify their existence.”

“This pending tax hike proves that Americans for Prosperity was right about this cap-and-trade scheme,” continued Lonegan. “Consumers in the remaining RGGI states will now pay more to heat their homes, keep their lights on and keep their businesses running. But consumers in New Jersey will be spared and our state’s economy will reap the benefits from their foolishness thanks to Governor Christie’s wise decision to pull New Jersey out of RGGI, and the thousands of AFP activists who made that happen.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens to support restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP is more than 2 million activists strong, with activists in all 50 states.  AFP has 34 state chapters and affiliates. More than 85,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial contribution to AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

Americans for Prosperity does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

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