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Democratic Congressman Zack Space is taking heat for staying in party ranks and voting for the National Energy Tax better known as ‘Cap and Trade.’

The bill passed by a vote of 219 to 212 last Friday.

Many Republicans including Rep Pat Tiberi, say Ohio is at a disadvantage for cap and trade because of our reliance on coal. 

Democrats support the bill as a climate change measure.

According to a previous statement by Tiberi before the vote:

the National Energy Tax will destroy between 2.3 and 2.7 million jobs per year according to an analysis commissioned by the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and that's the net job loss after accounting for any "green" jobs this legislation might create.

The Speaker's bill pits "green" jobs against the jobs American workers already have. Analysis by the Juan Carlos University in Spain found that Spain's cap and trade policies, upon which many of the provisions of this legislation are modeled, cost the economy two jobs for every one "green" job created.

Even the renewable energy industry recognizes that this legislation is a job killer - according to Don Furman, President of the American Wind Energy Association "The current legislation does not create jobs" (Washington Post, June 15, 2009).

The EPA's analysis of the legislation makes clear that U.S. manufacturing jobs will be forced overseas as costs on American manufacturers rise. These jobs could go to places like China and India who don't have the same environmental restrictions this bill would create in the United States.

Space voted for both the final bill on the floor and a version out of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Ohio Democratic Representative Charlie Wilson voted against the bill.

It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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