The Curbelo Carbon Tax would be a tax on everything.

Some “conservatives” in Washington are pushing the idea of a carbon tax. A carbon tax is nothing more than a tax on energy that would impact every American. This would not only raise the price at the pump and on utility bills, but would also increase the cost of all goods and services. Nevertheless, Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida’s 26th Congressional District recently filed the inaptly named MARKET CHOICE Act, with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-8) and Francis Rooney (R-FL-19) as co-sponsors.

The economic impact of this tax would be significant. Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, who has played a role in crafting and pushing for the bill, admits the MARKET CHOICE Act would result in measurable economic harm to the United States over the course of the next ten years. Analysis shows if the tax is implemented by 2030:

• Natural gas production will be 5–8 percent lower.
• Gasoline prices, despite the removal of the federal gasoline tax, will increase by nearly a dime a gallon.
• Average electricity prices will be as much as 10 percent higher.
• Per capita energy expenditures will increase by $186–$278.
• And economic growth will slow, bringing down GDP by about two-tenths of a percent.

In sum, virtually no significant sector of our economy would go unscathed since this tax would impact the electricity and transportation sectors that are so central to commerce. Tell your representative we can’t afford a carbon tax because energy is the lifeblood of our economy.