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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: February 25, 2010
Sen. Ron Justice Sen. Brian Bingman
Senators Justice And Bingman Stand In Support Of
Crucial Oklahoma Industries
EPA regulations threaten state’s
agriculture and oil and gas sectors
In light of a December ruling by the Environment Protection Agency
(EPA) that will have a damaging affect on Oklahoma industries,
Senator Ron
Justice (R-Chickasha) and Senator Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) call on fellow legislators
to join in the fight to protect the state’s economic stability.
The state’s top two industries, agriculture and oil and gas, will
suffer the most if the EPA is allowed to push ahead with their
ruling that so-called greenhouse gases endanger public health and
welfare.
Three states have filed a petition in federal court to review the
EPA’s endangerment finding on greenhouse gases. Unfortunately,
Oklahoma, a state that could least afford to see its two major
industries suffer, has not joined in the fight. Senators Justice and
Bingman pledged to fight against any legislation that would
jeopardize Oklahoma’s economy and industry sector, which directly
affect Oklahoma families.
“Agriculture is a major consumer of fossil fuels, and any attempt to
limit energy inputs in our state would cause severe economic
hardships for food and fiber producers,” said Justice. “The EPA
regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from farms and ranches could
lead to costly and burdensome mandates on Oklahoma’s food and
renewable fuel producers.”
Senator Bingman added that the EPA's efforts to regulate greenhouse
gases will have a detrimental affect on Oklahoma’s crude oil and
natural gas industry.
“Any federal action that would negatively impact the energy industry
will only worsen the state's current economic woes,” said Bingman.
“The EPA proposals will impose additional regulatory barriers,
eliminating jobs and reducing the state's oil and natural gas
production. We invite our fellow state legislators to come together
and stand in defense of Oklahomans and the industries that move our
state forward.”
Oklahoma's oil and natural gas industry accounts for roughly 25
percent of the taxes paid in the state through taxes on oil and
natural gas production, income taxes, motor vehicle taxes and other
fees and taxes imposed on the industry.
The Obama Administration’s economic projections show that the
proposed Cap and Trade legislation would result in planting trees on
59 million acres of crop and pasture land thereby damaging the
capability of agricultural producers to feed a growing world
population and create the conditions for hiking consumer food
prices. The legislation would eliminate jobs, and could result in
the loss of 2.3 million jobs in the United States over the next 20
years.
According to a U.S. Senate economic study released last fall, the
proposed climate legislation would force agriculture producers to
pay $550 million more for energy inputs by 2020 and $1.65 billion
more by 2050.
Senators Justice and Bingman are both members of the Senate
Republican Rural Caucus, where Justice serves as chairman. In
addition, Senator Bingman is chairman of the Senate Energy and
Environment committee.
For more information contact:
Sen. Justice: 405-521-5537
Sen. Bingman:
405-521-5528
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