Utica Shale

Unbelievably, the Ohio Business Roundtable, comprised of CEOs of big businesses in Ohio, has endorsed a high severance tax on Utica Shale drilling. The OBR is using (abusing) an Ernst & Young “analysis” to say, in essence, go ahead and screw drillers and landowners–the drillers will stick around because they get screwed worse elsewhere. We’re somewhat befuddled at how the OBR can say it’s OK to steal the wealth from a specific industry and transfer to others who didn’t earn it. But we’re simple folks in our reasoning power. All’s we can say is that, with friends like these…

Below is the statement from the OBR and a copy of the “analysis” done by E&Y that blesses a high severance tax and makes it OK for Ohio’s RINOs to force it through.
Read More “Ohio Business Roundtable Sells Out – Endorses High Severance Tax”

With apologies to the memory of the late, great Johnny Cash, to be sung to the tune of Folsom Prison Blues…

I hear the severance tax train a comin’
It’s rolling round the legislative bend
And I ain’t seen a better vote-buying scheme since, I don’t know when
I’m stuck in Tea Party prison, and time keeps draggin’ on
But that severance tax train keeps a rollin’, on down to a legislative vote.

RINO Gov. John “foreigner hunter” Kasich is so excited, he may pee his pants. After a year of debating stupid Tea Party Republicans, his administration is “really close” to reaching an agreement with those in his own party to start soaking the Utica Shale drilling industry in his state. Really close. Really. But, you’ll have to wait until next month to find out just how much the industry will get soaked. They want to announce it and slam bam vote on it before anyone can raise the alarm. So deliberative. So open and transparent. What paragons of authority and leadership to emulate. What jerks.

Here’s the story of a RINO governor and Republicans who apparently are willing to cave on their principles…
Read More “OH Severance Tax Blues – Kasich Says the Tax Trains’ a Comin’”