Energy & Environment

Hagan hit on carbon tax again

Conservative group American Energy Alliance (AEA) launched ads Wednesday accusing Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) again for supporting a carbon tax.

The $230,000 ad buy is the second one from AEA hitting Hagan, who is up for reelection this year.

The ad alleges Hagan lied when saying she opposed a carbon tax after the group’s first ad ran last year.

{mosads}Showing footage of Hagan backing the president’s Affordable Care Act, the ad states: “We all know politicians don’t always tell the truth.”

“Now she’s at it again. Hagan’s campaign claims she opposes a carbon tax but she is on record supporting it — worked to make it a priority,” the 30-second TV and digital ad buy states.

AEA bases its claim on a letter Hagan signed in 2010 with a group of Senate Democrats calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to move on energy legislation, specifically a “comprehensive solution that includes a price on greenhouse gas emissions.”

The ad also claims such a tax would “destroy North Carolina jobs” and “cost the average family over $2,000 a year.”

Hagan has said she opposes a carbon tax despite her votes against an amendment offered by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) last year that would have blocked the tax.

But Hagan also voted against Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-R.I.) nonbonding amendment which would have returned revenues from an fee on carbon pollution to the public.