HOLLAND, OH - U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman issued the following statement today after touring Brennan Industrial Truck Company in Holland, Ohio, where he spoke with workers about his opposition to the cap-and-trade energy tax that will further decimate Ohio's economy:

"Ohio is struggling through this historic recession, and the last thing we need is a national energy tax that will make it more difficult to do business here. Our small businesses are struggling to meet payroll, working families are struggling to make ends meet and our manufacturers are struggling with too many government-imposed rules and regulations that make Ohio less competitive than other states.

"Ohio stands to lose as many as 100,000 jobs if the cap-and-trade tax were to be signed into law. All of our energy costs - to consumers and businesses - would increase by as much as 60 percent, putting additional strain on those already struggling. There is a better way to clean up our environment without sacrificing our economy. We need policies and private-sector innovation that will make Ohio competitive again and help us create the jobs we need for real economic recovery. That's why I've developed the Portman Plan to Create Ohio Jobs and as Ohio's next U.S. Senator, I will focus on helping Ohio and our nation get back on the path to economic prosperity."

The National Association of Manufacturers Reported That Ohio Would Lose Up To 108,600 Jobs If The 2009 Waxman/Markey Cap And Trade Legislation Passed.(National Association Of Manufacturers and American Council For Capital Formation, "Ohio; Economic Impact On The State From The Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454; Proposed Legislation To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions," http://www.accf.org, 8/11/09)