#ObamaGap in the Rose Garden: Your Guide to President Obama's Tax Hike Speech
At a press conference today, Speaker John Boehner will discuss the American Energy Initiative, and will highlight the House budget that promotes an “all of the above” strategy to address high gas prices and create new jobs (tune in to Speaker.gov/Live at 11:15 AM ET to watch the live stream).
President Obama? The Associated Press says he’ll be giving a Rose Garden address calling for tax hikes that will make gasoline even more expensive according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS). For those watching the president, here are some key words and phrases to listen for:
- “all of the above” – When President Obama says “all of the above,” he’s actually referring to the energy he’s blocking. This is known as the “Obama Gap.” House Republicans have a real “all of the above” energy strategy, and have passed several American Energy Initiative bills designed to increase production, stop policies that drive up gas prices, and create jobs.
- “energy production has increased on my watch” – We’ve debunked this one before. Federal energy production has declined by seven percent as the Obama administration has spent three years blocking, delaying, and rejecting critical projects (as gas prices have risen).
- “fair share” – This is code for tax hikes that the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) says would raise energy prices for consumers and increase foreign dependence. Even Democratic leaders admit raising taxes won’t lower gas prices.
- “renewable energy” – Republicans are already working to remove government barriers holding back renewable energy production. The House recently passed the Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act (H.R. 2842) which Speaker Boehner said “would help expand production of clean, renewable hydropower by cutting red tape and getting government out of the way” – no tax hikes or government spending required!
- “keystone” – After rejecting and lobbying against the popular Keystone XL pipeline, the president tried to take credit for a part of it that didn’t need his approval. We don’t know if he’ll bring it up today, but if he does, remember: the White House “expedited the approval of the Solyndra loan project” but rejected the Keystone XL pipeline – and thousands of jobs it would create – which was under review for more than three years.
Gas prices are already rising faster than ever (this writer paid $4.15 a gallon on the way into work this morning) and “[m]ore than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the way President Obama is handling high gasoline prices,” says Reuters. That number might “necessarily skyrocket” after he goes on record – again – pushing for tax hikes experts say would make things worse.