Updated: Jefferson County GOP targets Pelosi visit, Yarmuth camp responds

Arguing "it would be like robbing a bank only to return later and open a checking account," the Jefferson County Republican Party has taken aim at the forthcoming visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) to Ford's Louisville Assembly plant.

"We are truly shocked that Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Yarmuth would have the audacity to step foot into that plant after passing an SUV tax earlier this year, only adding to Ford's current problems and further threatening their workers," Jefferson County Republican Chair Brad Cummings said in a statement dispatched today. "It's the height of hypocrisy to pretend they care about these dedicated people."

Yarmuth and Pelosi are scheduled to hold a closed-door roundtable discussion at the Ford plant tomorrow afternoon.

The "SUV tax" in question pertains to a provision of HR 2776 - the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007. That legislation - which both Pelosi and Yarmuth voted for when it was approved in the U.S. House in 2007 - would remove a tax incentive for consumers purchasing sport utility vehicles, described as "gas-guzzling" in a release about the bill from Pelosi's office.

Cummings linked ownership of the typically large SUVs to vehicular "safety" in his statement today.

"The American consumer is already getting hammered by record high gas prices. To punish them for wanting to drive cars with their family's safety in mind doesn't exactly fit into the Democrat's ‘populist' message" said Cummings. "It makes one wonder what the Democratic Party's true motives are."

The 2007 legislation in question still is not law. The bill - which also would revoke $18 billion in tax subsidies for oil and gas companies - never saw a vote in the U.S. Senate.

Jefferson County contains Metro Louisville and nearly all of the 3rd Congressional District currently held by Yarmuth. The race for the 3rd District between Yarmuth and former U.S. Rep Anne Northup (R-Louisville) - a rematch of the 2006 contest when Yarmuth upset the then-incumbent, Northup - has revolved around energy policy in recent weeks.

In his statement, Cummings also took a swing at Yarmuth's opposition to increased domestic drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore locations.

"I think we need to look into why [Pelosi and Yarmuth] are against drilling and other technologies like coal-to-oil. Is it possible they want $7-10 a gallon gas prices to reduce energy use? I suppose if that were my motive, I wouldn't tell the American people that either. It's an awfully hard sell," said Cummings in the statement.

Last week, Yarmuth announced his support of "use it or lose it" legislation that would fine oil companies for not drilling on federal lands upon which they hold leases.

Update: The Yarmuth campaign released the following statement in defense of Pelosi and Yarmuth's votes on the legislation in question:

"The Speaker and Congressman Yarmuth are proud to lead the initiative to give American automakers the resources to build fuel-efficient vehicles that can compete globally in the 21st century, help chart a course toward energy independence, and keep good manufacturing jobs right here in United States where they belong."