Boehner: President Obama's Strategy, "As Senseless As It Is Heartless"

Contact: Michael Steel, Kevin Smith, 202-225-4000 

WASHINGTON, June 29 /Standard Newswire/ -- House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement today in response to an email from White House Climate Czar Carol Browner explicitly stating that the White House plans to exploit the tragic effects of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico to push for a job-killing 'cap-and-trade' national energy tax:

"The motto of this White House is 'never let a crisis go to waste' and it looks like they're at it again: exploiting the tragedy in the Gulf to push a job-killing political agenda.  Using the awful impact of the oil leak on the lives and livelihoods of Gulf Coast residents as a propaganda tool for their misguided 'cap-and-trade' national energy tax is as senseless as it is heartless.  

"With oil still gushing from the well, and still washing up on the wetlands and beaches of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, we need to focus on the actual problem -- stop the leak, clean up the Gulf, and hold BP accountable for every dime they owe.  Instead of helping people on the Gulf Coast, the White House is ducking responsibility, and playing Washington political games.

"It's also worth noting that the White House cites the ineffective trillion-dollar 'stimulus' and the job-killing 'ObamaCare' government takeover as examples to support their case for the national energy tax.  If those costly disasters are their idea of success, I'd hate to see their definition of failure."

NOTE: In an email today, White House Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner wrote, "The disaster in the Gulf is a wake-up call that we need a new strategy for a clean energy future, including passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation."