Legislation to End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks Introduced by Sen. Sanders, Rep. Ellison.

[Ichingcarpenter]

Legislation to End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks Introduced by Sen. Sanders, Rep. Ellison
Friday, November 22, 2013
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 – As House and Senate budget negotiators look for ways to lower deficits, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) today introduced legislation to eliminate tax loopholes and subsidies that support the oil, gas and coal industries.

The End Polluter Welfare Act of 2013 would remove tax breaks, close loopholes, end taxpayer-funded fossil fuel research and prevent companies from escaping liability for spills or deducting cleanup costs. Under current law, these subsidies are expected to cost taxpayers more than $100 billion in the coming decade.

The White House budget proposal for next year calls for eliminating several of the same provisions that the legislation by Sanders and Ellison would end.

“At a time when fossil fuel companies are racking up record profits, it is time to end the absurdity of American taxpayers providing massive subsidies to these hugely profitable fossil fuel corporations,” Sanders said.

“The five biggest oil companies made $23 billion in the third quarter of 2013 alone. They don’t need any more tax giveaways,” Ellison said. “We should invest in the American people by creating good jobs and ending cuts to food assistance instead of throwing tens of billions of taxpayer dollars at one of the biggest and most profitable industries in the world.”

The five most profitable oil companies (ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP and ConocoPhilips) together made more than $1 trillion in profits over the past decade.

The Sanders and Ellison legislation is supported by environmental groups including Friends of the Earth, Oil Change International and 350.org.
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/legislation-to-end-fossil-fuel-tax-breaks-introduced-by-sen-sanders-rep-ellison

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

1. This is a good example of where...

...our tax policies and income distribution are skewed. Firms that create such profits have a duty to the systems that made their profits possible, in that a portion needs to be put into the collective infrastructure, namely the human element. Subsidies me arse!

[Awknid]

2. Does it have a chance to pass?

[ReRe]

6. Probably not with THIS House of Reps....

...but, if they do the work on it now, then when the Dems win the majority back in the House and get a veto-proof majority in the Senate in 2014, then they can pull it back off the shelf, slap a new date and re-write a bit, and then slam it through!

[Laelth]

3. Good idea. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Grey]

4. K&R

[DiverDave]

5. It's about god danged time

Now, get them to PAY IT BACK

[ReRe]

7. K&R

... to the moon and back!

[Phlem]

8. Huge K&R!

it's been to long for this conversation. I'm glad we're having it now.



-p