Protest over tax prevention act target Speaker Boehner's office

WEST CHESTER, Ohio - Protestors against the American Energy Initiative and Energy Tax Prevention Act say the efforts by lawmakers will hurt the environment. They are taking their protest to Speaker of the House John Boehner's West Chester office on Monday.

Members of the Ohio Student Environmental Coalition are teaming up with the Sierra Club to oppose the House legislation. They say the energy tax prevention bill will weaken the Clean Air Act and make it easier for coal and oil companies to pollute the air.

Supporters of the new legislation and the American Energy Initiative say now is not the time to impose more taxes on energy companies. With high oil prices and job creation still very weak, lawmakers want to lessen the restrictions on companies and promote job creation. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) and proposes to "stop the EPA from going around Congress and unilaterally imposing a backdoor national energy tax that would make everything from gas prices to utility rates more expensive and send American jobs overseas."

Protestors on Monday plan to add some visual drama to their protest by wearing gas masks and showing signs with inhalers to make their point that fewer restrictions on energy producing companies will lead to more pollutants in the air.

The protest is from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Speaker Boehner's West Chester office located at 7969 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

Every time there is a protest at the Speaker's local office, it puts West Chester police on alert. They have to commit their attention and resources to any protest to ensure protection for all.