H. R. 3 --"Expressing the opposition of the House of Delegates to a federal energy or BTU tax, and urging the congressional delegation of West Virginia to oppose the same."
Whereas, The Clinton Administration has proposed a broad set of economic policy initiatives aimed at reducing the federal budget deficit and promoting further economic recovery; and
Whereas, One such initiative is an energy or BTU tax on the energy content of most fuels produced and consumed in our nation; and
Whereas, Among the effects of an energy tax is higher energy prices and tax-induced higher production costs which affect output, investment, employment and export competition; and
Whereas, Nowhere would these effects impact more heavily than in West Virginia, an important energy-producing state ranking second among states in the production of coal, tenth in the production of natural gas and is one of the leading states in exporting its products; and
Whereas, Some 12.2 percent of West Virginia's Gross State Product is derived from coal mining, oil and gas extraction and petroleum refining, compared to 2.0 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product; and
Whereas, West Virginia is also an energy-using state, with a significant energy-intensive manufacturing sector employing some 86,800 people and representing 15.6 percent of the State's Gross State Product; and
Whereas, A recent study released by American Electric Power in conjunction with the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce concluded that the proposed energy tax could cost an estimated 415,000 jobs across the nation with 23,800 of the lost jobs occurring in West Virginia, or 3.9 percent of our workforce; and
Whereas, The study concluded that West Virginia's job losses are ten times greater than the nation as a whole and larger than any other state; and
Whereas, The study concluded that job losses in West Virginia from the energy tax would be thirty times as high as jobs lost from an equivalent amount of reduced federal spending; and
Whereas, The House of Delegates lauds the determination of the Clinton Administration to reduce the federal budget deficit and promote further economic recovery; however, we do not believe that an energy tax, with such devastating impacts upon our state, should be a factor in the process; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates expresses its opposition to a federal energy or BTU tax; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates urges the congressional delegation of West Virginia to oppose such tax; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forthwith forward a copy of this resolution to each member of the congressional delegation of West Virginia, to the President of the United States and to Governor Gaston Caperton.