On Sunday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Zanesville, Ohio as part of the Administration’s rural America listening tour. Co-Chairs of the Rural America Solutions Group Frank Lucas (R-OK), Sam Graves (R-MO), and Doc Hastings (R-WA), released the following statement regarding Sunday’s event:

“Unemployment in Ohio is higher than the national average – and rural residents of the Buckeye State need real help – not more rhetoric. Unfortunately, when Obama Administration officials visit the greater Zanesville area on Sunday, they probably won’t explain the facts surrounding the President’s National Energy Tax and government-run health care plan. The truth is that these proposals are expected to devastate rural America by spiking energy bills, increasing unemployment and shutting down small businesses.

“During the campaign, President Obama pledged to hold a bipartisan rural summit and take action on a rural agenda in his first 100 days. But unfortunately, his promise turned out to just be empty campaign rhetoric. Republicans on the Rural America Solutions Group will continue to call upon the Administration and Democrats in Congress to take action to help rural Americans in central Ohio, and all across the country, who are struggling during these difficult economic times.”

By the Numbers – What The Democrats’ National Energy Tax Means to Ohio:

11.1 %	Ohio currently faces an 11.1% unemployment rate. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics). Ohio residents cannot afford to see their electricity rates and gas prices spike as a result of the Democrats’ National Energy Tax.
85.8 million	Ohio residents receive 85.8% of their electricity from coal. (Source: American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity) This means that families and businesses electricity costs would soar under the Democrats’ National Energy Tax, which makes the coal industry pay more for emitting carbon.
75,000	There are 75,000 farms in Ohio (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture). Farmers will pay more for fuel, electricity, fertilizer, and chemicals under the Democrats’ National Energy Tax because agriculture production is an energy-intensive industry.
25%	Americans in rural areas, like the greater Zanesville area, travel 25% more than residents in urban areas (Source: U.S. Federal Highway data), meaning rural residents would disproportionately suffer from the Democrats’ National Energy Tax.
901,000	Ohio has more than 901,000 small businesses that would suffer as a result of increased electricity costs due to the Democrats’ National Energy Tax. (Source: Small Business Administration 2008 Ohio Profile)
$239 million	Ohio’s 18th Congressional District in 2012 will face a $239 million Gross State Product loss as a result of the Democrats’ National Energy Tax. (Source: Heritage Foundation)
$350 million	Ohio’s 18th Congressional District in 2012 will face a $350 million Personal Income Loss as a result of the Democrats’ National Energy Tax. (Source: Heritage Foundation)
$706 million	Electricity costs in Ohio will increase by over $706 million as a result of the Democrats’ National Energy Tax. (Source: National Mining Association)

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