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Dems Warned Not to Exploit Gulf Spill to Push BP-Backed National Energy Tax

Democrats want to exploit the Gulf spill to pass their jobs-killing national energy tax – "written in concert" with and "supported" by BP, whose president called it one of "the best solutions" – over the objection of struggling families and small businesses. The Atlantic says Democrats' goal is to "prevent the crisis from going to waste" by jamming into law a bill supported by BP – but Republicans and editorial boards around the country are already sounding the alarm.

On Fox News, House GOP Leader John Boehner said "the President and some liberals here in Congress want to use this disaster as an excuse for imposing their cap-and-trade national energy tax on America." Boehner also called on Democrats for planning to hold a vote on this jobs-killing bill AFTER the midterm elections. Watch:

Here's more from editorial boards around the country warning Democrats not to "exploit the crisis for political gain":

Exploiting Gulf gusher to pass cap-and-trade won't clean-up oil leak: "Take apart President Barack Obama's Oval Office speech on the Gulf of Mexico oil gusher and it comes off short on solutions for containing and cleaning up this mess and long on plans to exploit the crisis for political gain. ... Though he left room for other options, he strongly pushed the cap-and-trade bill adopted last year by the House: ‘Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these (energy independence) principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill -- a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America's businesses.' But the policy embraced by the bill would choke off economic growth and kill jobs, including an estimated 30,000 in Michigan." (Detroit News, 6/17/10)

Spill no justification for cap-and-trade scheme: "Republicans say President Barack Obama is exploiting the Gulf crisis to push an unwanted energy policy capping greenhouse gas emissions and forcing companies to buy and trade emissions credits. That will have no effect on the spill or on the reality of America continuing to largely rely on oil for decades. But cap and trade can be very profitable for the government, which will take its cut in fees and taxes while controlling the faux carbon market. ... The U.S. needs cap and trade like it needs another oil spill." (OC Register, 6/17/10)

Republicans Accuse Obama of Trying to 'Exploit' Oil Spill to Pass Climate Legislation: "President Obama has made clear that he sees the BP oil spill as a way to breathe new life into efforts to pass climate and energy legislation aimed at reducing the use of carbon fuels such as oil and coal. But Republicans are launching a pre-emptive strike, saying an oil spill is not a good reason to tax all forms of energy. ... Previous assessments of cap-and-trade bills warned of job losses..." (Fox News, 6/17/10)

Cap-And-Trick: "President Obama says the oil disaster proves the need to get off fossil fuels. But before we save the planet, let's save the Gulf and stop exploiting crises to deny America the energy it needs. ... The imposition of renewable energy standards, as cap-and-trade is now called, would raise electricity prices, lower GDP and eliminate jobs. The only thing that wouldn't be capped is the Deepwater Horizon well." (Investors Business Daily, 6/17/10)

If you want to help The Freedom Project support reform-minded GOP candidates who oppose a national energy tax and will fight to stop the Democrats jobs-killing agenda, click here now.