-Grassroots group says Sen. Webb was right to put his state ahead of Washington special interests -

For Immediate Release – Monday, November 16, 2009
Contact: Ben Marchi (805-380-9240 or email bmarchi@afphq.org

RICHMOND - Americans for Prosperity, the nation's premier grassroots organization fighting for limited government and free markets, today praised U.S. Senator Jim Webb for putting the interests of everyday Virginia taxpayers ahead of the Washington special interests pushing for cap-and-trade.

Politico reported today that Webb said of the Kerry-Boxer cap-and-trade energy tax bill:

"In its present form I would not vote for it. I have some real questions about the real complexities on cap and trade." Webb also said: "That piece of legislation right now is something that is going to cause a lot of people a lot of concern."

Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips hailed Webb for his statement:

"Senator Webb has finally listened to the thousands of Virginians who have rejected a cap-and-trade tax that would force them to pay much higher prices for gasoline and electricity and ship what's left of our manufacturing sector abroad – with no environmental benefit to show for it. Webb has joined a large and growing group of cap-and-trade skeptics who know our already-weak economy can't afford anything that would raise energy prices and cause more hardship for taxpayers."

Americans for Prosperity Virginia State Director Ben Marchi called Webb's new position a hard-earned victory for grassroots activists:

"We have traveled up and down the great Commonwealth of Virginia to educate and mobilize citizens to make the case against the outrageous cap-and-trade energy tax. Clearly, Sen. Webb has heard the loud voices of his constituents, a testimony to the power of grassroots activism here in Virginia. We are, however, concerned that Sen. Webb's statement included the infamous weasel words 'in its present form' and will continue to educate and mobilize Virginians to ensure that both Senators Webb and Warner don't support anything that would raise energy prices for Virginians."

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 800,000 members, including members in all 50 states, and 25 state chapters. More than 55,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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