The gas severance tax
It's heartening that the governor (and the subject also was discussed here) is talking about proposing a severance tax in 2009 (to call it a tax increase would suggest we have a severance tax -- it's so tiny it exists virtually in name only). But reading between the lines of this account it would appear that gas companies expect to decree what they will accept, rather than public officials deciding what is fair and legislating a levy similar to other states in the region whether the industry likes it or not. Will anybody representing the broad public interest (not just politicians dependendent on the lobby for re-election cash) participate in the negotiations?
