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   From: ramon@conexus.net   
      
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   governor.swill@gmail.com wrote:   
   >   
   > Trump says throw his ass in jail.   
      
   Sean Casten calls for $273 billion in 'tax credits for clean   
   energy' without disclosing his investment in industry   
      
   Illinois Democratic representative Sean Casten has urged   
   Congress to spend billions of dollars on "tax credits for clean   
   energy." Excluded from his pitch is any mention of his ownership   
   stake in an alternative energy company that would benefit from   
   such spending.   
      
   Casten on Monday joined environmental advocates at a "Climate   
   Action Now" rally, imploring his House colleagues to pass   
   President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion spending plan with "no   
   compromises" on subsidies and incentives for the alternative   
   energy sector. Casten did not divulge his vested financial   
   interest in those provisions.   
      
   According to Casten's latest financial disclosure, the Democrat   
   holds an ownership stake in Greenleaf Power, a self-described   
   "leading provider of renewable energy in North America." The   
   company, its website states, sells carbon-neutral electricity to   
   "municipal, public power, and investor owned utilities." Biden's   
   multitrillion-dollar bill, meanwhile, includes a $150 billion   
   program to compel electric and municipal power providers to   
   purchase more renewable energy.   
      
   The value of Casten's stake in Greenleaf is unclear. While the   
   Democrat reported holding up to $500,000 in the company in 2019,   
   his 2020 financial disclosure asserts that the asset holds no   
   value, even though Casten earned up to $2,500 in interest income   
   that year. Casten did not return multiple requests for comment   
   on the discrepancy. The revelation could undermine Casten's   
   charge to "prioritize climate action at the scale science   
   demands" in Biden's spending plan. The Democrat has argued   
   explicitly for $273 billion in "tax credits for clean energy"   
   without acknowledging his alternative energy investments. Casten   
   has also aligned with liberals to attack partymates who oppose   
   the spending, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.).   
      
   "We're trying to drive a car into the future," Casten said   
   during a Tuesday MSNBC interview. "With all due respect to Mr.   
   Manchin, until we're lining up to take off the emergency brake   
   this car ain't driving very fast. It's certainly not driving as   
   fast as it needs to, and that's the pressure we as Democrats   
   have to keep focused on."   
      
   Casten's spokeswoman, Emilia Rowland, confirmed on Tuesday that   
   the Democrat still holds an ownership stake in Greenleaf but   
   added that he "has no control, managerial or otherwise" over the   
   company. The financial disclosures, however, alarmed government   
   ethics watchdogs. Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust   
   executive director Kendra Arnold said disclosure of lawmakers'   
   financial interests in the legislation they advocate is   
   essential.   
      
   "Whether or not [Casten] makes $5,000 or $25,000 off of a   
   company in a year doesn't matter. It's his potential to change   
   the law in order to make more money from something he owns,"   
   Arnold told the Washington Free Beacon. "In this case, it's   
   always important to note for constituents if he's sponsoring   
   legislation, if he's talking about specific legislation that   
   would directly benefit something he does have an ownership stake   
   in—that's where our conflict of interest rules come up."   
      
   In addition to Greenleaf, Casten owns an up to $15,000 stake in   
   GOE Capital Partners, a Minnesota-based "waste recycling and   
   green energy company," his 2020 financial disclosure shows.   
      
   Casten's pledge to secure funding and subsidies for alternative   
   energy in Biden's $3.5 trillion bill may lead him to oppose the   
   president's bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Casten   
   reportedly indicated he is leaning toward voting against the   
   bipartisan bill if the House does not simultaneously take up the   
   multitrillion-dollar spending proposal.   
      
   A who's who of liberal lawmakers have already committed to the   
   strategy, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.),   
   Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.), and   
   Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.).   
      
      
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