FreedomWorks Volunteer Speaks to GE Shareholders

Thank you Mister Chairman.

Good Morning. My name is Kathy Hartkopf and I live in Hillsborough, North Carolina. According to our GE website home page, founder Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” To all of us here at GE, those words are operating instructions.

From Edison on, this mantra of hard work and commitment has made this company an industry leader.

It is my concern that with regard to “Cap and Trade” rather than continuing its mantra of hard work and innovation GE is simply jumping on a political bandwagon.

According to a Clinton Administration study, Cap and Trade will raise gasoline prices, raise energy prices, reduce economic growth, drive interest rates up, and lead to loss of American jobs.

Cap and Trade will hurt our company. Cap and Trade will hurt our shareholders. Cap and Trade will hurt our employees. Cap and Trade will hurt our retirees. Cap and Trade will hurt the American economy as a whole.

GE should not ride the bandwagon of embellishing Cap and Trade benefits and downplaying its costs.

Mr. Edison also said, “Surprises and reverses can serve as an incentive for great accomplishment. There are no rules here, we’re just trying to accomplish something.”

Thank You.