Hutchinson News: Roberts Signs No Climate Tax Pledge
August 4, 2008
Capitol notebook
By Chris Green - Harris News Service
U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts became the first federal-level candidate from Kansas to sign a new “No Climate Tax Pledge” this past week.
Roberts is committing to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in federal revenue,” according to American for Prosperity, the group sponsoring the pledge.
At least 33 state legislative candidates have also signed the pledge.
Roberts spokeswoman Molly Haase said the senator has serious reservations that carbon taxes will increase the cost of fuel, electricity and fertilizer. That would harm the state’s economy even as developing countries to continue to pollute, she said.
“This would do more harm than good.”
But former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery, Roberts’ likely Democratic opponent in the Nov. 4 general election, said he supports implementing a “cap-and-trade system,” in addition to reducing fossil fuel use, developing alternative energy and improving fuel efficiency for vehicles.
“Climate change is a serious issues facing our entire planet and each of us has a responsibility to address the problem,” Slattery said.
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