November 5th, 2021

By now you have seen (and may already be paying) the Burdensome Biden Bill, which amounts to all the ways that the President’s policies are increasing costs on Americans. You can add the President’s Heat-Your-Home-Tax to the bill that Americans are going to pay this winter. To draw attention to these burdens that the president is passing on to middle and low income families, Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) hosted a discussion with energy sector leaders and other House Members as a part of Leader Kevin McCarthy’s roundtable series.

The increased costs may not seem like much to Democrats, but, “…forecasts already predict Americans will end up paying up to 54% more for their heat bills this year. The Democrats’ Heat-Your-Home-Tax will drive up their costs by up to $242 more per year.” This could be devastating to family budgets and leave people to decide whether to pay for food or President Biden’s increase to their heating bill. Thankfully, “House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is calling for increased investment in our domestic energy production and a greater commitment to fostering innovative solutions for our short and long-term energy production.”

And ICYMI – Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was featured in a viral video clip during the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing with energy sector executives. It is worth the two minutes to watch his comments.

The Bottom Line: An unexpected $250 bill may not seem like a lot to President Biden, but it is extremely burdensome to hard working Americans.

The methane fee is back. But let’s call it what it is…a tax. Whether it comes from EPA or the reconciliation bill, this additional cost is going to be paid by American households. Energy producers are facing new regulations from the EPA and a “duplicative and punitive natural gas tax” according to Frank Macchiarola, the American Petroleum Institute’s senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs.

Not only will an additional tax increase costs for families, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) draws attention to the bigger picture, “…energy inflation is a crisis. It’s a national security crisis because energy policy is national security policy in this country.” By creating a hostile policy environment for businesses that provide a critical resource like energy, President Biden is making America less secure (by forcing us to rely on foreign energy suppliers) and making it more difficult for middle and low income families to pay their bills. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) said Wednesday ahead of the COP26 that it will, “take us from being a nation that is energy dominant and energy wealthy to a nation of energy weakness.”

We need leaders that take a common sense approach to America’s energy future and who promote clean, abundant and affordable solutions. The big question is, will Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) continue to stand up for average Americans and their wallets by opposing any form of methane tax?

The Bottom Line: The methane tax is rearing its ugly head once again. Americans need to be made aware that they will be footing the bill in the form of higher prices for heating and cooking.

In a stunning rebuke of the Biden administration, Virginians scored a common sense sweep of statewide offices on Tuesday, electing Republicans: Governor Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Governor Winsome Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares.

The results send a clear message. President Biden’s tax and spend, “green at all costs” agenda is not what voters elected him to do. Not only are they displeased with his agenda, voters are also displeased with the increased costs they’re paying for just about everything. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) did not mince words when asked whether the election was a referendum on the President’s agenda: “Nobody elected him to be F.D.R., they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos.” Instead, he’s set on becoming a transformational figure that will be remembered for centuries to come, but maybe not for the reasons he would like.

In a refreshing change of pace, Governor-elect Youngkin seems likely to bring a common sense approach to energy with him to office. From the Sept. 16 debate: “We have seen what happens in California when you do not have a reliable energy grid…Get ready for blackouts and brownouts and an unreliable energy grid. We can do this with common sense. We should embrace all energy sources. Yes, wind. Yes, solar. But we can’t dismantle reliable clean burning inexpensive natural gas.”

The Bottom Line: Members of the President’s party are now telling him to stop being so radical. That should tell you all you need to know.

COP26 Offshore Renewable Energy Event: On Friday, November 5, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Amanda Lefton “will join other leaders in the world’s clean energy efforts for an event on ‘Climate-Smart MSP for the Offshore Renewable Energy Industry.’”

First Meeting Of The Joint Federal-State Task Force On Electric Transmission: On Wednesday, November 10, the first public meeting of the Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission will be held in Louisville, Kentucky. The Task Force will “will focus on topics related to planning and paying for transmission” as “our nation’s continued energy transition requires the efficient development of new transmission infrastructure.”