Friday, July 17, 2009


Thompson’s Bill Passes the House

Washington, D.C. – H.R. 2352, The Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 bill passed the House of Representatives on May 20, 2009.

U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, is happy to announce that his bill, H.R. 1807, The Educating Entrepreneurs through Today’s Technology Act of 2009, also passed as a part of H.R. 2352.

Thompson’s bill will allow third-party vendors to distribute and conduct distance learning that uses the resources of the Small Business Administration and the 63 Small Business Development Centers throughout the country. Third-parties will be able to provide high quality tele-distance training through a competitive grants process that would be administered by the Small Business Administration.

Thompson explained that a void was created when Gov. Rendell stopped funding in the state budget for the Community Education Councils.

“As a freshman in Congress, it is gratifying to have my bill included in a larger bill and to see it passed on the floor of the House”, stated Thompson. The Senate will also need to pass this bill along until it reaches President Obama’s desk.

“If someone in a rural community can utilize a local center to learn about the financial, tax, insurance and legal issues involved in running their own business, then this bill will have done it’s job,” stated Thompson.

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Cap and Trade Bill Passes in the House

June 26, 2009

Washington, D.C. – The “American Clean Energy and Security Act”, H.R. 2454, passed by a close vote of 219 to 212, despite Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, voting a resounding “No”. Forty-four democrats also opposed the bill.

Thompson has campaigned against this bill, stating “This bill may be the largest tax increase in American history and it disproportionately punishes rural America and the poor who will not be able to afford the jump in gasoline prices, fuel oil, natural gas and all the items made from those products. Fertilizer, for example, is produced using natural gas. Costs for agricultural products will rise and jobs will be lost,” says Thompson. “But don’t just take my words, President Barack Obama, while still a candidate, said that under his cap and trade utility plan utility rates would ‘necessarily skyrocket,’ and that those costs would be passed along to consumers.”

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission warned in a letter and Thompson has quoted many times, “if the Waxman-Markey bill were to pass, Pennsylvania is looking at a bleak scenario by 2020: a net loss of as many as 66,000 jobs, a sizeable hike in the electric bills of residential customers, an increase in natural gas prices, and significant downward pressure on our gross state product.”

Thompson admits that the bill comes with a funding section to help Americans who lose their jobs, when, and if, this bill becomes law.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Congressman Thompson Opposes Cap and Trade

US Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson Opposes Cap and Trade

Washington, DC – Republican Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson and many colleagues met in early May in a public summit to oppose the national energy tax, called Cap and Trade.

The House Representative Conference Chairman, Mike Pence (R-ION) will chair the House GOP American Energy Solutions Group, of which GT is a member. Thompson and many other Republicans are working on crafting solutions to lower energy costs for American families and small businesses.

“The truth behind the cap and tax plan is that it will lead to more taxes, fewer jobs, and more government intrusion. It won’t just raise the price of gas at the pumps and increase our home heating and cooling bills – but it will increase the cost of every product and service on which we rely,” stated Thompson.

“In this country, the President’s energy plan is a $646 billion tax that will hit almost every American family, small business and family farm. This makes no sense considering the current economic crisis in which we find ourselves,” explained Thompson.

The Republican American Energy Solutions Group will be holding a series of summits throughout the country, including one on May 26 in Pittsburgh, PA.