7/9/2009 6:26:00 PM My Turn: Why I voted against Waxman-Markey
Ann Kirkpatrick Congressional District 1 Representative for AZ
Rural Arizona has too often been poorly served by Washington. Time and again, the federal government shows us that it does not understand the values we hold and the challenges we face, and we pay the price for their mistakes.
I ran for Congress to stand up against these old and broken ways in Washington, and that was why I voted against the Waxman-Markey energy bill. However well-intentioned, it failed to recognize Greater Arizona and rural America's current situation and the impact this legislation would have on our communities.
I believe we must fight climate change and reduce our carbon footprint. I strongly support developing a range of renewable energy sources that will create 21st century jobs and free us from our dependence on foreign oil, and I am actively pushing for cost-effective measures that will help grow our renewable energy industry. But I refuse to do this at the expense of those who can least afford it in these difficult economic times.
The median income in the First District is $32,000 per household. For the 11 Native American tribes in Greater Arizona, the median household income is just over $7,200. One-third of Navajo Nation does not have running water or electricity, and by not investing in the grid Washington has made it difficult for that to change for many of my constituents. Were it not for the tireless work of the volunteer board members of our rural electric co-operatives, it would just be too expensive for many Arizonans to light or heat their homes.
Those same co-operatives currently rely substantially on coal and natural gas, and the impact of this bill on them would be immediate and serious. Consumer rates would certainly be impacted, potentially to a far greater degree than elsewhere.
Alternative fuels, whether from solar, wind, biomass, coal or nuclear, will be crucial to our achieving energy independence and could create thousands of jobs in this district. I endorsed $35 billion in investment for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and I am committed to moving forward with economically viable renewable energy programs. But making progress towards this goal should benefit rural areas, and the Waxman-Markey bill could take a heavy toll on us.
Families in my district are already fighting to stay in their homes and pay for gas, farmers and ranchers are struggling to afford fertilizer and feed and small businesses are stretching to meet their budgets. Folks here cannot afford this bill in this economy.
This legislation also works against our first priority, creating jobs and getting people back to work. Unemployment is already approaching ten percent in Greater Arizona, and in Indian Country, it is over 50 percent. It is unacceptable for our leaders in Washington to risk putting even more folks out of a job.
Waxman-Markey is going to damage industries that are major employers in Greater Arizona, most notably the four coal-fired power plants in the district. We are just starting to make progress towards economic recovery, and reducing capacity at those plants would wipe out those gains.
The significant impact on the federal budget was another concern. The Waxman-Markey bill will increase direct federal spending by $821 billion at a time when our national debt is already at historic levels. Though the bill creates revenue, how much is unclear and is susceptible to factors completely out of our control. We are facing many important challenges right now, and we need to start making tough choices. This was one of those tough choices.
Though the bill narrowly passed the House, many Members joined me in standing up against the Administration and congressional leaders and fighting for rural communities. I will continue to bring the voice of my district back to Washington and keep focused on improving our economy, getting folks back to work, restoring the fiscal balance and paying down our national debt. I know that being an independent voice is not always popular, but I will keep fighting to make Washington do the right thing for rural Arizona - no matter which party I have to stand up against.
Ann Kirkpatrick is the Congressional District 1 Representative for Arizona.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Al Nollan
Thanks for voting against the Waxman-Malarkey bill. It was nothing but a money bag for the likes of the Algore. I wish you were also against gov't funding of abortion via the likes of planned parenthood, a for-profit business on the 'cutting edge' of abortion.
Posted: Sunday, August 30, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Thank You for all your doing for Arizona.I was so glad to read that you oppose the Waxman-Markey bill. I have now decided to keep up on how my district leaders are voting on things. I was pleasently suprized by you.
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009
Article comment by:
Aaron Riley
Why would we want to give China yet another economic advantage? This bill was a bad move. Thank you for standing up for America's economy.
Posted: Thursday, July 30, 2009
Article comment by:
Ted Myers
I am very disappointed that you did not support the climate change bill. Although the bill contains many compromises and imperfections, we need to start addressing this issue NOW! Please consider supporting future climate change legisaltion.
Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Article comment by:
maryclair vandeaver
I am thrilled that rep Kirkpatrick voted against this bill. It is horrible legislation that will hurt this country during bad economic times
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2009
Article comment by:
MP
I was pleasantly surprised to see that you had not voted for this bill. Thank you for seeing that this would devastate our economy. To those who are posting that we should address "climate change" immediately, I have 2 questions:
1. At what point in the long history of planet Earth has the climate been constant? There have been ice ages and warming trends long before man and will be long after we are gone.
2. Assuming there was some magical constant, why do we assume that we can somehow divine what that constant should be and the method to maintain it? History proves repeatedly that we are NEVER as smart as we think we are!
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Cheri Baldwin
Rep. Kirkpatrick, thank you for voting against Waxman-Markey bill! In no shape form or fashion was that bill beneficial to this country. Cleaning up the air can NOT be achieved by taxes, that idea is ridiculous. Anyone paying attention and with half a brain can recognize another power grab in this bill. More jobs lost and higher energy....how in good heavens name is that good for America! Climate change and Global warming is a joke. Think of it this way...Hitler was brilliant in a very bad way...telling the people the same thing long enough and over and over again they start to believe it. I applaud you! I sincerely support your NON support of this devastating health care bill. That is a BIGGER joke then Cap & Tax. AGAIN...lost jobs, AGAIN...power grab by our government, AGAIN...this country can not afford it. Our current government has bankrupted us, our children, our grandchild and beyond. Obama has spent more money in 6 months then 43 Presidents before him!!! COMBINED!!!! HOW is that GOOD for America??? Get this country back to the Constitution....I will end this now, I'm getting to upset. We do not want Socialism, Marxism or Communism!!!!
Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Article comment by:
James Collins
I am happily surprised that Rep. Kirkpatrick did not go along with the Waxman-Markey bill.It is just another way for the government to get in our pockets and abuse our tax dollars putting more of a burden on regular folks. The answer to these economic times is not more spending or regulations but less government and more hard working American ingenuity.
Posted: Monday, July 20, 2009
Article comment by:
Rich Williams
I am disappointed that Rep. Kirkpatrick voted against this bill. However, she did because so many Arizonans think this bill would over burden them with additional payments and raising consumer costs. In truth, this bill is a small band-aid on a wound that will just become more expensive to fix as time goes on. So to all of Rep. Kirkpatrick's constituents, please educate yourself on why it is critical to invest in clean energy now, and how it will save you money in the long run.
Posted: Monday, July 20, 2009
Article comment by:
Delores Manburg
Though I understand that it was a tough choice on your part to not support the Waxman-Markey bill, I am extremely disappointed. I feel that we need to act on climate change immediately. Though the economic times are difficult now, jobs and the budget can be addressed in other ways.
