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March 13, 2012 Dear Senator:

Our groups have diverse missions and different ideas about the role of government. But we join together to urge you to oppose Senate Amendment 1782 to the Transportation bill currently being debated on the floor. This amendment would attach S. 1863, the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions or NAT GAS Act to the bill. By providing billions in tax subsidies, the NAT GAS Act interferes in the marketplace to favor natural gas over other transportation and energy technologies that may be more cost-effective or sustainable.

The NAT GAS Act provides significant subsidies for natural gas at all levels of production– from manufacturing and infrastructure to consumer tax credits– carrying an estimated $5 billion price tag. It includes a tax credit for up to 80 percent of the marginal cost of buying a natural gas vehicle– up $64,000 for the heaviest trucks; a 50-cent-per-gallon fuel tax credit, an infrastructure tax credit for 50 percent of the cost of a fueling station—up to $100,000, and a manufacturing tax credit for the production of natural gas vehicles. While a consumer fee would be used as an offset over the long-term, the fee does not even begin phase in until 2014, sticking taxpayers with the immediate fiscal impacts.

Again we urge you to prevent the siphoning of billions of dollars to the natural gas industry. Oppose S.A. 1782 to the Transportation Bill.


Taxpayers for Common Sense

Competitive Enterprise Institute

Greenpeace

The Heartland Institute

Food and Water Watch

Freedom Action

Americans for Prosperity

Friends of the Earth

Earthworks

Western Organization of Research Councils