For weeks, Reps. Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher have blasted their respective Republican challengers, state Sen. Robert Hurt and Del. Morgan Griffith, for the higher electric bills faced by Appalachian Power (APCo) customers. In a press release issued today, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, writing as the Commonwealth’s attorney in suits filed by APCo, “short-circuits” Perriello and Boucher’s allegations:
When APCo’s rates jumped in mid-December, both Senator Robert Hurt and Delegate Morgan Griffith voted for legislation that would immediately cut off APCo’s rate jump. As soon as the Governor signed the bill, that rate jump was cut off, i.e., eliminated.
Ever the fighter, Cuccinelli goes from defense to offense, reminding voters of the root cause of the electric rate increases and of Perriello and Boucher’s culpability—particularly their support for Cap-and-Trade:
During the biggest single rate hike for APCo in the last several years (2008), this is what the State Corporation Commission had to say about why the rates were increased: ‘The record before the Commission reveals that a significant portion of the increase relates to capital expenditures made to generation and distribution facilities needed to provide service to customers. *A large portion of this increase is attributable to environmental improvements made to the generation facilities to comply with federal laws and regulations.’*
But on the flip side of this discussion, both Perriello and Boucher have taken votes that they knew would raise electricity rates. Boucher even went so far as to personally round up the necessary votes in committee.
I’m talking about their anti-economy vote for cap and trade. Cap and trade is a direct threat to the economy of Central, Southside and Southwest Virginia, not to mention how it would hit every single family right in the wallet to the tune of over $1,000 a year.
For both of these two to vote for cap and trade and then turn around and act as if they are concerned about rising electricity rates is absurd and deceptive. They should be forthright, step up and fully explain on what possible basis they think that cap and trade would be good for
either the 5th or the 9th district.Perriello never says how saddling Virginia companies with more regulation and much higher electricity rates will make us more competitive, particularly when our biggest competitors – India and China – stand ready, willing and able to take the jobs those companies have to
offer without anywhere near the regulatory burdens or the cost of electricity.
Since the issues dominating this election cycle do not favor incumbent Democrats, one can understand why Perriello and Boucher would be eager to change the focus of the election to local issues, but when both congressmen cast devastating votes for Cap-and-Trade—Boucher even taking a leadership role in securing the legislation’s passage—what would possess them to draw attention to their abysmal record on high electric rates?
