An aide in Adam Putnam’s (R-Bartow) office stated that he would be opposing the cap and trade bill.  Bill Posey (R-Melbourne) will also be opposing the bill.

Alan Grayson (D-Orlando) is still undecided on the bill. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa) is voting in favor of the bill.

Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) plans a House Floor Vote TODAY to raise taxes with the NEW “Carbon Tax”. She suddenly forced House committees to finish their work on the massive bill in less than 24 hours. Congressmen did not even get time to read the bill with hand written notes in the margin. Why you ask, because it is time for her Summer Vacation.

In an article published yesterday I explained why this bill is bad for businesses.  This bill is a hidden tax on everyone in America. It will hit small businesses and the agriculture community even harder with the economy in the shape that it is currently in.

Official Statement regarding Putnam’s position on Cap & Trade.———

Putnam opposes “cap and trade” energy bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) today announced he would vote against the “cap and trade” energy bill (HR 2454).

“We need a comprehensive energy and environmental policy to protect and sustain our nation’s natural resources while providing for a strong American economy,” said Putnam.  “But the harder I look at this bill, the harder it is to support it.  It fails in so many fundamental ways.  It punishes the first to innovate and it rewards the last.

“It misses so many opportunities to reward good stewards of the earth and to encourage innovation.  It fails to foster development of nuclear power, which emits zero carbon.  It fails to encourage the development of clean coal technology – something which is being pioneered in Central Florida.  No serious energy policy can ignore the development of these fuel sources, which are necessary to make us more energy secure and less dependent on hostile nations.

“In addition, this legislation will impose a cost burden on consumers,” Putnam said. “And it will raise costs at a time when we can least afford them.  This will increase utility rates by as much a 57 percent, according to local estimates. Higher energy costs as we painfully witnessed last summer mean less discretionary spending and more jobs moved overseas.”

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12^th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.