Striking Ike

The Missouri Republican Party has issued a rare attack on Rep. Ike Skelton following his vote for an energy-climate bill that narrowly cleared the U.S. House Friday.

The vote on the legislation was 219-212.

44 Democrats voted against it; 8 Republicans voted for it.

Missouri Republican Party Chair David Cole said Skelton's vote shows he's completely "lost touch" with his district.

"After more than three decades in Washington, Representative Ike Skelton has completely lost touch with the families, farmers, and businesses in his district. Skelton is complicit in yet another Washington power-grab. Just like the auto bailouts, the so-called stimulus bill, and the proposed government takeover of health care, the government is using ‘global warming’ as an excuse to assert more control over private business and industry—and Skelton’s decision to vote for the massive energy tax will end up costing Missourians every time they turn on the lights or drive a car," said Cole in a statement released Friday.

"Sadly, this was another vote about politics, not people. Skelton decided it was easier to side with East and West Coast liberals like Nancy Pelosi than to do what was right for hardworking Missourians. The people of Missouri never asked for—nor can they afford—this legislation which has been called 'the biggest tax in American history," he added.
***
Here's how it's being covered:

POLITICO: ". . . a major victory for President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that left Republicans fuming about a “national energy tax” they said would exacerbate the nation’s economic woes."

NEW YORK TIMES: "The vote was the first time either house of Congress had approved a bill meant to curb the heat-trapping gases scientists have linked to climate change . . . [It] could lead to profound changes in many sectors of the economy, including electric power generation, agriculture, manufacturing and construction."

ATLANTIC POLITICS: "How much would you pay for cap-and-trade? About $19 a month? Then you're an average American. That's according to this fancy graph (after the jump) drawn up by Nate Silver based on a Washington Post poll."

MSNBC: "Now, the heavy lifting moves to the Senate. And it's not going to be easy. It will likely be reworked before it eventually comes to a vote after the July 4th recess in the other chamber."