New API Ad Campaign Stresses Energy Tax Hikes Could Increase Pain at The Pump in West Virginia

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Mar 26, 2012, 09:00 ET

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With West Virginia families gearing up for summer road trips, the president could now make those trips more expensive by raising taxes on the oil and natural gas industry. The American Petroleum Institute is launching a new ad campaign to educate voters about the consequences of hiking the cost of energy production.

"Raising taxes will not lower energy prices for American families and businesses—in fact, the Congressional Research Service says this plan could cause gasoline prices to go higher," said API President and CEO Jack Gerard. "Our new campaign in key states will explain that more domestic production is critical to putting downward pressure on gasoline prices—supply matters."

API will run a series of ads in West Virginia and six other target states. The West Virginia ads will encourage voters to contact Senator Joe Manchin to reject new taxes on the industry. The Senate is expected to vote on Monday for the higher energy taxes the president wants.

"It's time to work together on a national energy strategy that focuses on developing all American energy resources," said Gerard. "A true all-of-the-above strategy will create jobs, provide much needed revenue for our government, and secure our nation's energy future."

Along with West Virginia the new radio and print ads will run in Missouri, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, and Nevada from March 24-27.

Opposition to higher energy taxes is rising among the public. A recent "What is America Thinking on Energy Issues" poll showed that 76 percent of voters think that higher energy taxes could equal higher gas prices.

API represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America's energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers more than $86 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested more than $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.

SOURCE American Petroleum Institute