Coloradans Reject Romney's Plans To Eliminate Thousands of Colorado Jobs

Opposition to wind power tax credit directly threatens Colorado's economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 2, 2012
CONTACT: Joanne Schwartz, Executive Director at 303-991-1900

GOLDEN: As ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney arrived in Colorado once again to campaign, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, called on Romney to immediately apologize for helping bring about the possible elimination of thousands of Colorado new energy jobs.

"Mitt Romney has a lot of nerve showing his face in Colorado after calling for the elimination of thousands of our best-paying private sector jobs," said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Joanne Schwartz. "Republicans and Democrats in this state don't always agree, but we agree on this: our wind power industry is vital to our economy and worth protecting. It's shocking that Romney would oppose even his fellow Republicans in Colorado, and directly endanger thousands of Colorado jobs, just to curry favor with Big Oil campaign contributors."

The Pueblo Chieftain reported Wednesday that just one Colorado wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas America Wind Technologies, stands to lose up to 1,600 high-paying manufacturing jobs in Colorado if the wind power tax credit is allowed to expire at the end of this year. The wind power tax credit was established over 20 years ago, during the administration of Republican President George H.W. Bush.

"Romney's stand against wind power may have already given fellow Republicans in Congress an excuse to stall and allow this tax credit to expire," said Schwartz. "Romney thinks he can say anything he wants on the campaign trail, but in this case he is hurting real people--and our state's economy. Mitt Romney says he's for American jobs, but his thoughtless actions could actually help destroy great jobs right here in Colorado."

Politico reported Wednesday that Romney's opposition to the wind power tax credit might have derailed negotiations in the Senate on new bipartisan legislation to extend it, at least temporarily.

"It's one thing to make idle threats as a political candidate," said Schwartz. "Because of Romney's status as the presumed nominee of his party, he is already in a position of leadership. Helping obstruct the renewal of the wind power tax credit is an act that does actual damage to Colorado's economy, not hypothetical damage. Thousands of good-paying Colorado jobs are at risk. That's why Republicans and Democrats in Colorado have joined together to support renewing the wind power tax credit."

"Every time we think Romney cannot be more out of touch with Colorado, he proves us wrong."

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