ACARE Congratulates Senate Republicans for Taking a Principled, Common-Sense Stand by Boycotting Kerry-Boxer Climate Bill Mark-Up

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Republican Senators on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee should be applauded for boycotting today's Committee hearing to mark-up the Kerry-Boxer climate bill, the American Council for Affordable and Reliable Energy said.

"Committee Republicans had requested to see a fresh Environmental Protection Agency analysis of the bill before the mark-up," said ACARE executive director Mike Carey, "but Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer flatly refused."

In a Nov. 2 letter, Sen. Boxer suggested to Committee Republicans that they forego requiring an EPA analysis before mark-up like House Energy and Commerce Committee members did before voting on the Waxman-Markey climate bill last spring.

"Sen. Boxer has basically asked Committee Republicans to abrogate their responsibility to the American people by voting on a bill that even the EPA has not yet had time to review," observed Carey. "The House's hasty action last spring showed why the Senate is considered the 'adult' body of Congress," noted Carey.

"We think Committee Republicans are taking a principled and common-sense stand by refusing to take action on a bill that is essentially a black box. Openness and transparency are the hallmarks of good government, as opposed to rushing to judgment on a complex 959-page bill that no one understands," Carey concluded.

ACARE was formed to fight for the energy supplies that America needs to maintain its unparalleled social and economic advancement. ACARE believes that the availability of diverse sources of energy should be based on free market forces rather than government mandates and preferences, taxpayer subsidies, and government-sanctioned consumer gouging.