Murtha Snubs District With Cap & Trade Vote

District Residents Could See $2K Jump In Utility Rates
(JOHNSTOWN, PA) – Ignoring the importance of the coal industry in the 12th Congressional district, incumbent Rep. John Murtha (D) voted with his Democrat party leadership in supporting the Obama Energy Bill in the late night hours Friday. The bill, also called “Cap and Trade,” would heavily tax energy derived from fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

“Our local residents could see as much as a fifty percent increase in their home utility costs,” said William Russell, Republican candidate in the 12th district. “This bill is nothing more than a way for this government to take even more money from its hard-working citizens. Residents in this district are already having trouble paying their home heating and electricity bills, how can they afford to pay up to fifty percent more?

Russell also pointed out that Rep. Murtha also thumbed his nose at the district’s coal industry by supporting the bill. “Pennsylvania and the 12th district sit on some of the largest coal and gas deposits in the country,” said Russell. “Passage of this bill could virtually shut down the coal industry. We should be encouraging the development and use of clean coal technology. This is just another example of how Mr. Murtha puts the support of his party ahead of the needs of his district.”

Russell also noted that West Virginia’s three representatives voted against the cap and trade bill. “Voters in the 12th district have to ask themselves one simple question,” said Russell. “Why on earth would Mr. Murtha support this bill? There is only one answer, to pay back his boss, Nancy Pelosi.”