WMC: Launches statewide education campaign on global warming bill

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Scott Manley, (608) 258-3400 or (608) 209-0578

Proposal Would Cost 43,000 Jobs and Increase Energy Expenses

MADISON — WMC on Wednesday launched a statewide media campaign to tell the public that the governor’s global warming legislation will cost Wisconsin jobs and increase energy prices. Voters are urged to call the Capitol to oppose the bill.

“We have very high unemployment in Wisconsin, and this bill is going to make it worse,” said Scott Manley, environmental policy director for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. WMC is part of a diverse coalition opposed to the bill.

WMC will air radio ads statewide to educate the public about the threats posed by the bill. Click here to read the script and listen to the ads. (http://www.wmc.org/governmentaffairs/display.cfm?ID=2233) WMC supports the Wisconsin Jobs 2010 (http://www.wmc.org/governmentaffairs/display.cfm?ID=2222) agenda of pro-growth reforms.

Twenty-three business groups — including WMC — wrote to legislators last month (http://www.hamiltonconsultingregwatch.com/documents/regulatory/climate/09dec03_task-force-letter.pdf) expressing concerns with the legislation (AB 649/SB 450) that will raise energy prices and eliminate even more manufacturing jobs. The bill imposes a host of new energy regulations that will increase utility bills, increase gas prices, reduce employment, and lower wages.

A recent study from the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (http://www.wpri.org/Reports/Volume22/Vol22No7/Vol22No7.html) (WPRI) found that the legislation would:

Cause the state to shed 43,093 private-sector jobs.

Cut annual wages by $1.6 billion, with disposable income falling by $1,012 per capita. In addition, the paper manufacturing industry would shed an additional 3,496 jobs.

The WPRI study identified other negative affects of the bill, including:

A $16 billion increase in energy bills to fund a 25 percent renewable mandate.

Mandating California emission standards would increase the cost of each new car sold in Wisconsin by $968, for an annual economic hit of $353 million to Wisconsin consumers.

The proposed Low Carbon Fuel Standard would increase costs to Wisconsin motorists by $3.2 billion. Since 2000, Wisconsin has lost 160,000 manufacturing jobs. And, our economy has shed over 120,000 jobs since the start of the recession.

“Our families are hurting,” Manley said. “Wisconsin government needs to focus on common sense solutions like controlling spending and taxes, containing regulation, and clamping down on frivolous lawsuits to encourage businesses to expand here.”