Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner have shot down rumors they are considering a carbon tax.

Former Secretary of State George Shultz is among the Republicans advocating for a carbon tax.When asked if Speaker John Boehner would support a carbon tax, his spokesman bluntly answered "No." Similarly, the Minority Leader's spokesman flatly stated "Leader McConnell opposes a national energy tax."

The notion of a carbon tax has recently been under discussion by a coalition of representatives and scholars from numerous groups of both political parties, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and ConservAmerica (formerly Republicans for Environmental Protection). The group met last week at the American Enterprise Institute, behind closed doors. Without the blessings of Congressional leaders -- especially the Speaker -- an initiative is unlikely to make much headway.

In a related development, Former Republican Congressman Bob Inglis announced a new Energy and Enterprise Initiative, to engage conservatives in environmental policies. Both he and the AEI have drawn fire from fellow Republicans for their consideration of a new tax.

Recently, Republican and former Secretary of State George Shultz also called for a carbon tax, calling global warming "a matter of fact."