Republican Reconciliation Bill Gives Handouts to Big Oil, Auto Companies, Decimates Clean Energy Progress
WASHINGTON — Republicans are moving forward a reckless plan to slash important government programs in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees are expected to approve a tax and budget bill that provides handouts for Big Oil and Gas, slashes incentives for consumers to reduce residential energy bills or buy clean cars and undermines climate progress in many other ways. In response, Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, issued the following statement:
“Republicans are trying to give massive tax cuts to corporate CEOs, and taxpayers will pay higher energy bills as a result—up to $110 or more as soon as next year. In a bonkers series of handouts, the GOP will gut clean energy tax credits, undermine environmental justice programs, and accelerate the climate crisis to pay for a sweeping set of subsidies for corporate America.
“Trump’s reckless tax bill will kill President Joe Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, which provided incentives to advance the transition to a clean energy economy. It will set up a pay-to-play system where builders of gas pipelines and export terminals can fork over millions of dollars to avoid environmental reviews.
“It will sabotage sensible climate solutions meant to lower energy bills and protect clean air and help Americans afford cleaner cars, and have helped the U.S. auto industry remain competitive with the global surge of EVs from Chinese manufacturers. The package would also eviscerate parts of the Clean Air Act, leaving frontline communities gasping for relief from the impacts of burning fossil fuels.
“Congressional Republicans are robbing taxpayers, jeopardizing the health of their communities, and making the climate crisis worse in order to make sure billionaires like Elon Musk pay no taxes. This clawback of clean energy policies while climate disruption and extreme weather continue to decimate communities—is yet another example of how this bill chooses the wishes of the few over the needs of the many.”
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