Resolution in Opposition to a Carbon Tax

Policy Status

  • Type: Model Resolution
  • Status: Final
  • Date Amended: September 18, 2018

Issues

  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Energy
  • Federalism
  • Tax Reform

    • Task Forces

  • Tax and Fiscal Policy
  • Energy, Environment and Agriculture

    • Related Articles

    Tags

  • 2013 Annual Meeting
  • AM 2018
  • Carbon Emissions
  • Carbon Tax
  • Competitiveness
  • Electricity
  • Energy Environment and Agriculture Task Force
  • Federalism
  • Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force
  • Taxation

    • Summary

    This resolution highlights the important role that energy independence plays in U.S. national security, and that access to electricity is both an imperative for Americans’ well-being and for economic growth.  A carbon tax would have an immediate consequence of increased prices for gasoline and electricity with a costly impact on low-income families and businesses alike.  Such a tax would also be inconsistent with the ALEC Principles of Taxation, because it would use the tax code as a means of manipulating consumer choices.  For these reasons, the resolution concludes that ALEC should oppose a carbon tax at both the state and federal level.

    Draft

    Resolution in Opposition to a Carbon Tax

    WHEREAS, affordable and abundant electricity is a strategic resource that is essential to modern life, America’s economic competitiveness.

    WHEREAS, the application of a carbon tax to gasoline and other transportation fuels will have a dramatic, immediate impact on transportation costs; and

    WHEREAS, a carbon tax, by design, will result in substantial, immediate increases in the price of electricity, making electricity less affordable for millions of Americans; and

    WHEREAS, a carbon tax in the United States will have no impact on China, India, and other major sources of carbon emissions throughout the world, except to increase their competitiveness relative to the United States; and

    WHEREAS, a carbon tax will put United States exporters and manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage by increasing domestic manufacturing production costs; and

    WHEREAS, the sole purpose of the tax code should be to fund necessary government functions rather than to manipulate consumer decisions.

    NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the American Legislative Exchange Council opposes all Federal and state efforts to establish a carbon tax on fuels for electricity and transportation.