Comments for Energy interests fretting over Obama's budget at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.theind.com Mon, 20 May 2013 14:01:49 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/home/5626#comment-5750 What is a "break" or "incentive." How much is the government entitled to? It's a great word-play. The government doesn't tax us enough, so that's a tax "break????" We should be paying more? By the way, the oil and gas industry is the government's second largest source of revenue outside of taxes! - jeffreye Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:00:35 +0100 http://www.theind.com/home/5626#comment-5746 It is unfortunate that most American's have no idea that the majority of the oil and natural gas found in the United States is produced by U.S. independent oil and gas companies, not the majors that consumers and policy makers tend to want to punish with tax burdens. Most independents are typically smaller businesses with less than 20 employees and repealing these tax measures will certainly force many to shut down production. It is true, as Morrow mentioned above, that some have profited from recent oil and gas finds. However, locating and producing oil and natural gas is an extremely expensive, dangerous, risky and volatile operation. I prefer to support these companies to remain in business, which can only help lessen the amount of imports into the U.S. Do not forget the fact that any additional taxes imposed on these companies will only impact the consumer in the end. It is better to tax the consumer directly rather than cripple America's independent oil and gas industry. - THamlin Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:11:40 +0100 http://www.theind.com/home/5626#comment-5732 I don't think anyone can dispute the fact O & G companies have made tons and tons and tonse of profit, breaking their own records every year. I don't think taxing the people who aren't fortunate enough to get a share holder's check, or those big salary bonuses, or even those big salary and expense checks, is fair or equitable. Poor people, and the working poor, have to consume in order to get to work and get on with daily living. Old people, on fixed incomes, have a hard time with high energy costs. I know tons of people in the energy business who have admitted they never dreamed they'd ever be so rich, so please don't think big oil or even the smaller businesses who serve them, are even close to paying their fair share of taxes. To insinuate that is to add insult to injury. Too many "trust fund" babies in this town alone for that argument to hold water. - Morrow Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:41:43 +0100 http://www.theind.com/home/5626#comment-5731 If these measures do affect smaller independent companies and not big oil, that is truly unfortunate. However, why should government prop up oil and gas with tax preferences? Seems like true conservatives would be against such a thing. - Resident Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:10:44 +0100 http://www.theind.com/home/5626#comment-5723 Better idea--tax gas or oil at the pump. It is direct, less complicated, and slows down consumption. - David Ricardo Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:41:10 +0100