On behalf of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and ...

11 May 2011 Dear Representative: On behalf of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and millions of taxpayers nationwide, I urge you to oppose Rep. Sullivan’s (R-Okla.) H.R. 1380, the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act, or NAT GAS Act as it further complicates America’s already convoluted energy sector. Over the years, Congress and regulatory agencies have piled on rules and regulations in an attempt to nudge, or force, Americans to use lawmakers’ preferred energy sources. This compounding effect has skewed today’s energy market to the point where our most efficient energy sources are being phased out and replaced with unreliable, expensive alternatives. Americans for Tax Reform believes that an energy market which most benefits consumers is one largely absent of government intervention. In order to achieve this goal, conservatives must begin peeling back the numerous duplicative regulations and laws that facilitate or impeded certain types of energy. Unfortunately, HR 1380 takes the opposite approach instead piling more rules, grants, and tax policies onto America’s already encumbered energy sector. Congresspersons with a desire to cut taxes, a sentiment all Republicans should have, should not feel compelled to support HR 1380. There are any number of tax cuts which would reduce the government’s burden on Americans while not distorting our energy markets. HR 1380’s supporters argue that this legislation is necessary to usher in a new era of lowcost, more efficient cars and trucks. I find it hard to believe that if America is on the brink of a natural gas revolution, it will be the NAT GAS Act which propels is into this new age. More likely, a few well-connected businesspersons—like T. Boone Pickens—will profit while everyday Americans pocket only modest, if any, real savings. While the NAT GAS Act accurately identifies the problem with America’s energy sector, uneconomical energy sources are inappropriately incentivized, the proposed solution is one that only further obscures this pivotal sector. It is for these reasons that I urge you to oppose Rep. Sullivan’s (R-Okla) H.R. 1380, the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act. Onward,

Grover G. Norquist