Rahall targeted as carbon tax supporter

The American Energy Alliance is targeting Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) with a new ad that claims the congressman supports a carbon tax.

A carbon tax is unpopular in the heavy mining state, and Rahall has long voiced his support of the coal industry.

{mosads}But the 30-second ad makes the case he has backed imposing a tax on companies for their carbon emissions.

“Rep. Nick Rahall voted for a budget that included the carbon tax,” said the narrator of the ad, which will run for two weeks.

“It will kill coal and West Virginia jobs. Any vote for the carbon tax is a vote against West Virginia families.”

The $256,000 ad buy references Rahall’s vote for the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget solution, the nonprofit energy group said.

The budget offered by the liberal caucus imposed a carbon tax to help increase funding for alternative energies and pay for the budget’s revenue levels.

Rahall, who represents a deeply Republican district that blankets the southern end of West Virginia, has said he opposes a carbon tax.

Despite being a perennial Republican target, Rahall has historically easily managed to win reelection.

— Alexandra Jaffe contributed.