A while ago, I wrote to Rep. Amodei to express my thoughts about HR3096.
HR 3096 – Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2011. To restore the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of Gulf Coast States, to create jobs and revive the economic health of communities adversely affected by the explosion on, and sinking of, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon.
The bill proposes to deposit 80% of any fines levied after enactment of this bill into a special fund which would then be used to fix the mess BP created in the Gulf of Mexico. It then sets up governmental entities that will administer programs under this act. Well, as we all know, that will be in the courts for decades while BP attempts to forego having to pay anything in fines/penalties and negotiates them down to an amount that won’t fix the mess they created. In the end, what it means is that you and I, through our taxes, will need to fix that mess.
I wrote to Rep. Amodei, our elected representative in the House, in opposition to passage of this bill:
“I oppose passage of H.R. 3096 which appears to be allocating my tax dollars to restore the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of Gulf Coast States, to create jobs and revive the economic health of communities adversely affected by the explosion on, and sinking of, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon.
Excuse me? The BP Corporation caused that mess through their mismanagement and incompetence. The outrageous volume of profits they’ve hoarded, not my tax dollars should be used to correct the mess they created. If that should bankrupt them, so be it. That’s part of competing in the “free market.”
My tax dollars should be used to pay current expenses and retire the nation’s debt, not subsidize BP’s incompetence.”
Here’s Rep. Amodei’s response:
Oh … so let me see if I understand … it’s not okay to support continued tax relief for middle class Americans … but it is okay to support “additional revenue streams” for energy development in the Gulf of Mexico.
