Read here. America does not need any more corporate subsidies or earmarks, especially those that are designed to enrich real billionaires or wannabes, whether they be Boone Pickens or George Soros or Al Gore. This country is bankrupt, primarily because both Republican and Democrat politicians keep handing out billions to their friends and favorite lobbyists.
Natural gas is a clean and bountiful energy resource and will become more prevalent in daily use without any subsidies, if the politicans, regulators and the Federal government would just simply get out of the energy business. Instead, we get this crony capitalism that the likes of Obama and Ron Paul embrace and champion, which ends up totally distorting the market and lavishly lining the pockets of their friends, like Boone Pickens or GE.
Ron Paul does not deserve your vote nor your support, Mr/Ms Libertarian. And the below Republicans who also voted for this Pickens's subsidization should be tossed out of office, along with any leftist/liberal/progressive/Democrat who still remains in office. Terminate the careers of the big spenders and big subsidizers once and for all in 2012.
The Republican Co-Sponsors of H. R. 1380, the T. Boone Pickens Earmark Bill:
- Sullivan, John [OK-1], chief sponsor
- Alexander, Rodney [LA-5]
- Bachus, Spencer [AL-6]
- Barletta, Lou [PA-11]
- Barton, Joe [TX-6]
- Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50]
- Bishop, Rob [UT-1]
- Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7]
- Bonner, Jo [AL-01]
- Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45]
- Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7]
- Brady, Kevin [TX-8]
- Burton, Dan [IN-5]
- Bucshon, Larry[IN-8]
- Calvert, Ken [CA-44]
- Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2]
- Carter, John R. [TX-31]
- Cassidy, Bill [LA-6]
- Cole, Tom [OK-4]
- Conaway, Michael [TX-11]
- Culberson, John Abney [TX-7]
- Denham, Jeff [CA-19]
- Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8]
- Farenthold, Blake [TX-27]
- Fleming, John [LA-4]
- Gallegly, Elton [CA-24]
- Gardner, Cory [CO-4]
- Gerlach, Jim [PA-6]
- Gohmert, Louie [TX-1]
- Griffin, Tim [AR-02]
- Grimm, Michael G. [NY-13]
- Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4]
- Harper, Gregg [MS-3]
- Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49]
- Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3]
- Kelly, Mike [PA-3]
- King, Peter T. [NY-3]
- Kline, John [MN-2]
- Landry, Jeffrey M. [LA-3]
- Lankford, James [OK-5]
- LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14]
- Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3]
- Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY]
- Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3]
- Marchant, Kenny [TX-24]
- Marino, Tom [PA-10]
- McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10]
- McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11]
- Meehan, Patrick[PA-7]
- Miller, Jeff [FL-1]
- Murphy, Tim [PA-18]
- Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9]
- Nugent, Richard [FL-5]
- Olson, Pete [TX-22]
- Paul, Ron [TX-14]
- Pearce, Steve [NM-2]
- Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19]
- Poe, Ted [TX-2]
- Posey, Bill [FL-15]
- Reed, Tom [NY-29]
- Rehberg, Denny [MT]
- Rigell, E. Scott [VA-2]
- Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3]
- Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16]
- Ryan, Tim [OH-17]
- Scalise, Steve [LA-1]
- Scott, Austin [GA-8]
- Sessions, Pete [TX-32]
- Shuster, Bill [PA-9]
- Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2]
- Smith, Lamar [TX-21]
- Terry, Lee [NE-2]
- Thompson, Glenn [PA-5]
- Thornberry, Mac [TX-13]
- Tipton, Scott [CO-3]
- Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3]
- Wilson, Joe [SC-2]
Energy independence? You're kidding, right? The subsidies will actually expire in 2016? You're kidding, right? The public wants natural gas cars and a natural gas refueling infrastructure? You're kidding right?
Wishful thinking does not make a wrong right. This was a welfare gift to corporations and billionaires that give large campaign contributions, plain and simple. If you disagree, name a single poll that provides even a scintilla of evidence that the public wanted, requested or demanded this type of natural gas legislation.
Posted by: C3 | May 25, 2011 at 07:32 PM
I have to wonder if anyone who opposes this bill has actually read it? Or perhaps, you live in a city and haven't purchased a tank of gas since 2005. First, the subsidies in this bill expire in 2016, it's not a permanent subsidy like the billions we give to big oil. It's intended to kick start nat gas as a transportation fuel in this country. Without it, how long do you think it will take to build out a CNG refueling infrastructure? Once CNG is as available as diesel, by all means, let the subsidy die and let CNG stand on it's own. IMHO this is the best thing that could happen to promote our energy independence and national security.
Posted by: DanW | May 25, 2011 at 01:48 PM
You ignorant asshat.
Posted by: Davis | May 23, 2011 at 02:49 AM
"A tax-break is not a subsidy and the true libertarian stance should be not to battle against a tax-break but to call for even more tax-breaks, the more the merrier."
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2011/05/battle-of-oligarchs-2-kochs-versus.html
Posted by: Travis H. | May 21, 2011 at 05:39 AM
Note to progressives, the theory that tax cuts are subsidies assumes the government owns all your income and 'lets' you keep a certain amount. Libertarians reject this peculiar notion.
Posted by: KJ | May 20, 2011 at 12:53 PM