Pocan Fields Energy, Healthcare Questions In Listening Sessions

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Second District freshman Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc) says passing a federal budget that will spur economic growth is his highest priority.

During his first set of listening sessions since his election, however, he was peppered with questions about climate change, energy and health care.

In Baraboo Tuesday, Pocan fielded questions from about 20 people, including several demanding he oppose the Keystone natural gas pipeline and support a carbon tax for fossil fuel companies. Pocan assured them he’s casting votes that support both those efforts. But Scott Frostman of Baraboo urged Pocan to reverse course on the issue. He said imposing a carbon tax will hurt the solar industry, which needs fossil fuel to produce the glass used to make photovoltaic cells for solar panels.

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“If you increase the carbon fee you’re going to shoot yourself in the foot. You’re going to create challenges to your own industries that you’re trying to help by making it more difficult. “

But Pocan says he’s convinced the nation has to move away from fossil fuels and embrace renewables to protect the environment and slow the rate of climate change.

“I just think those are some wiser ways that we can invest and have more sustainable ways. 98 percent of our energy dollars that get spent in Wisconsin, leave Wisconsin. That’s not good for the state’s economy.”

Others at the session said they’re worried about the cost of implementing the Affordable Care Act. Pocan did his best to reassure them that the new health care exchanges will lead to lower insurance costs.

“There shouldn’t be a large cost. I think the real question we have is what the individual policies that come out of it are going to cost. The only example we have so far is California, and so far it looks very positive – at least in that one example – but I don’t want to use one example to say that there’s a theme here.”

But Pocan says the biggest challenge right now is passing a federal budget.