FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 4, 2010
Contact: Mark Block (262) 617-2716 or James Valvo (703) 224-3200

Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. House Candidate Dan Kapanke

-Signs No Climate Tax Pledge-

MILWAUKEE...The Wisconsin chapter of the free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-WI) today applauded U.S. House candidate and current State Senator Dan Kapanke (3rd District) signing the group's "No Climate Tax Pledge." Kapanke joins more than 400 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to "oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue."

"The one thing elected officials should be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn't be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses," said AFP-WI State Director Mark Block.  "We encourage all of Wisconsin's elected officials and candidates for office to sign the pledge."

Other Wisconsin signers include: U.S. Senate candidates Terrence Wall and Dave Westlake; U.S. House candidates Chad Lee, Peter Theron, Dan Sebring, Sean Duffy and Reid Ribble; Gubernatorial candidate and current Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker; Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidates Brett Davis, Rebecca Kleefisch and Dave Ross; as well as numerous state senators and state representatives.

Cap-and-trade took its first step toward enactment last year when the U.S. House narrowly passed the Waxman-Markey energy tax bill, which escaped the lower chamber by a scant seven votes despite significant bipartisan opposition.  The U.S. Senate has struggled to pass companion legislation, with several key Democratic senators openly expressing opposition to attempting to pass the energy tax bill.

President Obama has made no secret of his support for the bill, which would be the largest tax increase in American history.  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has scored the House plan as an $846 billion increase in federal revenue, a burden that will be borne by taxpayers and consumers for decades to come.

"Using the guise of climate change to transfer dollars from hard-working citizens to bureaucratic big government is unacceptable," said Block. "Regardless of their stance on global warming, this should be common ground for all of our elected officials at all levels of government."

The pledge is available online at www.NoClimateTax.com.  AFP does not endorse candidates.  All elected officials and candidates are encouraged to sign the pledge and go on the record in opposition to using the climate change issue to increase taxes and grow the size of government.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual's right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best way to safeguard individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 975,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 30 state chapters and affiliates. More than 60,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org