Washington, D.C. – News reports today indicate that a bipartisan group of House members – including Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) – plans to introduce a carbon tax bill this week. In response, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter issued the following statement:

“With an increased national focus on the perils of climate change in recent weeks, it comes as no surprise that stale ideas would be trotted out anew in hopes of demonstrating an adequate response from lawmakers. Yet carbon pricing schemes like this one are false solutions to climate change, and they provide a dangerous distraction from the bold policies required to avoid the worst effects of climate chaos in decades to come.

“This carbon tax bill amounts to climate denial, not climate action. Emissions pricing schemes like this one are actually supported by the world’s largest oil and gas corporations because they do nothing more than entrench the status quo – an economy dependent on polluting fossil fuels. This particular bill is potentially even more egregious, as it would reportedly roll back existing environmental regulations on carbon emissions, amounting to a shameful, self-defeating giveaway to the industry.

“As Democrats look to formulate a strategy on climate for a new Congress, it is imperative that they flatly reject carbon pricing schemes that increase costs for consumers while cementing a future of fossil fuel business-as-usual.

“A Green New Deal that includes carbon pricing isn’t green at all. The only legitimate path to moving off fossil fuels is to move off fossil fuels – now.”

Contact: Seth Gladstone - sgladstone[at]fwwatch[dot]org, 917.363.6615