First District Congressman talks with Rotary Club members after his Speech Monday in Hutchinson.
While Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, a Republican is supporting an extension of the wind energy production tax credit in congress, Kansas Republican Congressman Tim Huelskamp, who represents the first district in the state made it clear during a stop in Hutchinson Monday that he doesn’t support it, or subsidies for anyone in the energy industry for that matter.
He got into a discussion with former Chamber President Dave Kerr over this issue. Kerr of course was instrumental in bringing the Sieman’s Wind Nacelle facility to Hutchinson. He wants Huelskamp to join Senator Moran in supporting the extension of the wind energy production tax credit calling it fairness, but Huelskamp argued against it, saying it wouldn’t be fair. He says his idea of fairness is to not give credits or subsidies to any of the energy producers including oil and gas.
Huelskamp talked with us about the oil and gas companies getting federal money for their research. He says why should we do that, especially at a time when there making record profits. He say, “let them pay for their own research.”
Senator Moran said in a recent news release says he believes, “the future of the American wind industry requires a stable tax environment in which to operate.” Huelskamp says he’s confident that all those industries can compete without government subsidies. Huelskamp asked Kerr if Sieman’s would leave Hutchinson if they don’t have federal government subsidies, and Kerr didn’t believe they would.
But, according to the American Wind Energy Association, turbines, towers, and assembled nacelles are produced in more than 400 manufacturing facilities that employ tens of thousands of skilled American workers, including a Siemens nacelle facility in Hutchinson.
Moran says he believes, failure to extend the production tax credit will weaken this growing manufacturing sector and destabilize an industry shortly before it completes its transformation to being cost competitive in the marketplace.
The conversation between Huelskamp and Kerr did get loud at points, but appeared to be respectful disagreement over the issue.
Huelskamp talked during his speech at the Hutchinson Rotary Club Monday about the need to reform the tax code saying its completely out of wack, but says that and many other issues won’t be addressed until after the election, even though the growth of spending continues to climb. He says the national debt stands at 15.6-Trillion Dollars. He agrees with most conservatives that President Obama has added a lot to that debt, but says it started long before that, and no one is willing to make the cuts needed.
He also believes that Republicans and Democrats alike have to be willing to put some of their favorite programs on the table for cuts to get spending under control. He says neither side is willing to do that. He says he would be in favor of cutting some from military spending, but admits most Republicans oppose that, and Democrats don’t want to cut from their favorite programs such as the safety nets. Interestingly, he didn’t mention healthcare to much, although worries about when the taxes on what is called “Obamacare,” kicks in.
He also complains that there is no certainty on taxes or anything else in Washington right now, with pretty much everything being put on hold until after the November elections.