Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Gas drilling Severance tax committee plans frackers' expose
Posted by Max Brantley on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Sheffield Nelson, who's leading the drive for a severance tax increase, has announced a news conference tomorrow at which he will name a public official who's been paid to lobby for several gas companies.
In theory, the law prohibits lobbying by state legislators. Presuming they are all law-abiding people, that would lead suspicion in the direction of county officials. But I'm just speculating.
Other speculation is that Nelson might argue that advocacy for the industry by legislators who've received campaign contributions amounts to paid lobbying. It's always worthwhile to look at money sources for leading advocates for legislative propositions. When the contributions are significant, it lends unseemliness to the activities through the appearance of a quid pro quo. But I don't think it constitutes, on its face, paid lobbying or an ethical violation, which Nelson suggests as a possibility.
We'll see. He'll shine some publicity on campaign contributions at a minimum, I figure.
Speaking of...
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Gas tax group alleges poll intimidation UPDATE
May 23, 2012Sheffield Nelson, who's leading a grassroots campaign to increase the severance tax on natural gas, said petition canvassers at primary polls yesterday were intimidated by representatives of the industry-funded group fighting the tax increase. /more/
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Don't cry for the frackers
May 16, 2012Another Markham Group mailer hit mailboxes today. Like the anti-casino mailer, it's another anti-democratic effort urging people not to sign petitions putting a gas severance tax increase on the ballot. /more/
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Turn out the lights
May 12, 2012The week's about over. The line is open. /more/
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Corporate puppetry continues on severance tax increase
April 23, 2012The chamber of commerce's full frontal attack on the severance tax increase — not yet qualified for the ballot — continues. /more/
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The secret battle against the severance tax
April 16, 2012Stephens Media today reports that it can't find any prominent politicians in support of the proposal to raise the gas severance tax in Arkansas. /more/
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Nelson on right side of gas tax debate
April 11, 2012Sheffield Nelson is an odd person to be waging a one-man crusade against the business and political establishment to raise taxes on the Texas and Oklahoma gas producers who have been drilling in the Arkansas shale. /more/
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Sheffield Nelson, unlikely severance tax champion
April 10, 2012Times columnist Ernest Dumas, who draws on nearly a half-century of coverage of Arkansas politics, including the essential role gas exploration and taxation have played in politics, examines today former gas executive Sheffield Nelson's somewhat role as a severance tax champion and his past leadership of the very business orgtanizations fighting him today. /more/
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Sheffield Nelson schools Beebe on severance tax
April 6, 2012I never really expected Gov. Mike Beebe, who cut his teeth golfing with the lobby in the Senate, to be a supporter of the Sheffield Nelson-backed initiative to raise the pitifully low severance tax on natural gas. /more/
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Stands accused
March 21, 2012Is the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce "un-American," as Sheffield Nelson suggests? It's a close call; reasonable men might disagree. That the Chamber is unconscionable, on the other hand, was verified long ago. /more/
- More »
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
That severance tax sidestep that Mike Beebe orchestrated was the most dishonest raping of the voters I have seen in my 50 years in Arkansas.
To somewhat oversimplify - first couple years of well production exempt, then, any "underperforming" well exempted.
The sidestep is that wells spew when fracked for a couple years, then have a lower flow for their life.
Thus - high production years EXEMPT, then later years also EXEMPT due to flow.
Outcome - no taxes, just road damage and polluted surface and ground water.
like
dislike
PS, I would not be surprised if some Shale Caucus members are mentioned.
When the drillers began they were quoted saying, the locals love us when we arrive almost as much as they hate us till we finally leave.
Couldn't Sheffield just throw a dart into the Legislature and hit a paid lobbyist?
Shine a light on these shale caucus cheerleaders. They talk a great game but when it comes to putting numbers on the scoreboard they fall flat.
I'm guessing they collect more for themselves than they do for the public.
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