JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICANS EXPOSE THE PELOSI-YARMUTH FORD PLANT HYPOCRISY

Louisville – This weekend, Nancy Pelosi and John Yarmuth will exceed the limits of hypocrisy as they meet with Ford Motor Company executives after passing a bill that would further cripple the market for the Explorers made in their plant.

“We are truly shocked that Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Yarmuth would have the audacity to step foot into that plant after passing an SUV tax earlier this year, only adding to Ford’s current problems and further threatening their workers,” Chairman Brad Cummings said. “It would be like robbing a bank only to return later and open a checking account. It’s the height of hypocrisy to pretend they care about these dedicated people.”

Cummings is referring to the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act that wants to repeal a tax incentive passed in 2003 to aid auto manufacturers. The incentive was designed to help the struggling SUV industry by allowing those who purchase these vehicles to receive significant tax breaks.

“The American consumer is already getting hammered by record high gas prices. To punish them for wanting to drive cars with their family’s safety in mind doesn’t exactly fit into the Democrat’s ‘populist’ message” said Cummings. “It makes one wonder what the Democratic Party’s true motives are.”

Pelosi and Yarmuth promised common sense solutions to our energy problems yet the Democratic controlled Congress has done just the opposite. Since John Yarmuth took the oath of office just two years ago, gas prices have almost doubled.

“Barack Obama recently said that his only concern was how fast the prices went up. While that set off a red flag for a lot of Americans, Congressman Yarmuth and Speaker Pelosi stayed quiet,” said Cummings. “I think we need to look into why they are against drilling and other technologies like coal to oil. Is it possible they want $7-10 a gallon gas prices to reduce energy use? I suppose if that were my motive, I wouldn’t tell the American people that either. It’s an awfully hard sell.”

Congressman Yarmuth recently co-sponsored a bill that would take land away from oil companies, claiming a lack of effort to find new resources. However, most of these locations are tied up in litigation with environmental groups and when they do get to drill, 52% of the time there is no oil.

“For Congressman Yarmuth, maybe $100 for a tank of gas doesn’t hurt his bottom line. But for those of us in the middle class like the hardworking members of the UAW, these gas prices are difficult to endure,” Cummings said. “There is no doubt that we all care about our environment. But we can’t cut off our nose to spite our face. We must work towards the true common sense solutions of drilling for our own oil and exploring coal and nuclear options for the short term while investing in alternatives for the future. Then 10-15 years down the road, we can be completely free of oil without sinking our economy and ruining the American Dream.”