The White House said Thursday that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling plan to cut $4.5 trillion in spending would threaten more than 100,000 green manufacturing jobs — many in Republican congressional districts — announced as a result of stimulus in President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law.
The Republican bill repeals parts of the inflation-reducing law that Democrats passed in Congress last year. This includes eliminating green tax breaks for companies that make electric cars, charging stations, solar and wind facilities, electric vehicle batteries and other renewable energy infrastructure.
McCarthy said his proposal would end Biden’s “green giveaways” as he unveiled on Wednesday the cuts Republicans want as part of a $1.5 trillion debt ceiling hike.
In a memo shared exclusively with USA TODAY, the White House focused on eight GOP congressional districts — including Rural Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green’s county — where companies have announced manufacturing projects with the help of green subsidies.
“Let me kill over 100,000 manufacturing jobs—most of them in the red states—or I will force America to default on the bills we have collected and cause a recession,” is the opposite of a persuasive message,” Andrew Bates, deputy White House press secretary, said in the memo.
more:McCarthy, GOP debt reduction plan proposes $4.5 trillion in cuts, eliminating student loan forgiveness
Clean energy companies have announced 101,036 new jobs in 31 states since Biden signed the Inflation Cut Act in August, According to an analysis by Climate Powerthat advocates for clean energy.
This includes 90 proposed clean energy projects with a total value of $89.5 billion in new investment. The companies announced 40 new battery manufacturing sites, 22 new or expanded electric vehicle factories, and 24 wind and solar projects.
The majority of projects are in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas — a mix of the purple and red states. Bloomberg reported most of the projects in traditionally conservative countries.
more:Amid the debt ceiling crisis, why is Joe Biden refusing to negotiate with the Republicans?
The Greene District of North Georgia has A $2.5 billion solar manufacturing facility planned by Qcells, which was billed as the largest solar project in US history when it was announced in February. It is expected to create 2,500 jobs.
“Will Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene vote to cancel investments that help create 2,500 solar manufacturing jobs in her district?” Bates said.
The memo also singled out other congressmen for green projects planned in their districts:
- Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga. , Qcells: $2.5 billion for solar manufacturing, Hyundai/SK: $4.5 billion for battery manufacturing
- Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga: Freyr/Koch: $2.6 billion for battery manufacturing
- Rep. Joe Wilson R.C.: Scout Motors: $2 billion for electric vehicle manufacturing
- Rep. Ralph Norman RS.C: Albemarle: $1.3 billion for lithium processing
- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.: LG: $3.2 billion in battery materials processing
- Rep. Mike Curry, R, Ohio: Honda/LG: $3.5 billion for battery manufacturing
- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-AZ: LG: $5.5 billion to make batteries
Biden refuses to negotiate Republican spending cuts as the White House seeks to increase the debt ceiling without strings attached. Failure to raise the debt limit would mean the inability of the United States to meet its financial obligations, which would lead to possible default and economic collapse.
more:As Biden prepares for re-election in 2024, Democrats worry blue-collar voters are slipping away
As he prepares to announce a projected bid for re-election in 2024, Biden has made his push to expand domestic production of electric cars and microchips a central part of his message to the American working class.
In a speech from a union auditorium in Maryland on Wednesday, Biden blasted McCarthy’s plan as part of the “MAGA economic agenda” that values the rich over workers.
Bates said McCarthy’s debt ceiling bill would “take 2 by 4 – on behalf of China – for the resurgence of manufacturing in America”.
Connect with Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.