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GOP Sen.-elect Jeff Flake disavows carbon tax plan
Advocates of taxing carbon emissions shouldn’t look to Sen.-elect Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) as an ally, despite the congressman’s past introduction of carbon tax legislation.
Flake, through an aide, said he won’t revive the plan he floated with two House colleagues in 2009, which would have taxed fossil energy production while reducing payroll taxes.
“He has no plans to reintroduce it or support it as part of a tax reform package,” said spokeswoman Genevieve Rozansky.
She suggested that Flake’s 2009 legislation was a tactical move to counter cap-and-trade legislation that the congressman opposed.
“Sen.-elect Flake supported the carbon tax swap as a way to influence the debate on cap and trade,” Rozansky said in an email.
A sweeping cap-and-trade and energy bill narrowly passed the House in 2009 but didn’t advance in the Senate.
