Black Gold, Texas Tea
With oil and gas prices so high, many wells are being drilled in Utah. This is great for Utahns who work in the industry and for local economies. Also, this is great for the State's economy and the State's tax revenues.
As I've written several times before, the key to increasing funds for government-provided services, like public education, is not to take more money from people. Our taxes already are too high. Taking so much money discourages productivity. The key is to decrease the tax burden and grow the economy.
I've already heard that my campaign's emphasis on RESPONSIVENESS TO UTAH ISSUES is boring. So be it. Splash often obscures substance, but that doesn't mean substance is unimportant. Let me give an example.
Here is an article charging that BLM personnel are not taking enough time to review environmental impacts before drilling permits are issued in the Uintah Basin. Obviously, such charges will be used as a club by environmental groups out to curtail drilling. Already permits (and jobs and revenue) have been throttled by BLM's inability to process applications fast enough. This news potentially means even slower turn-around and less economic activity and government revenue.
What would I do as a U.S. Senator? Simple. As officials from the Uintah Basin have been asking for some time now, I would move more BLM personnel to the Basin to process the applications. Result: more permits and more consideration of environmental concerns. Not magic. Just effort. This doesn't take seniority. It takes focus. This issue wouldn't land me on CNN, but it would be significant for Utah.
As I've written several times before, the key to increasing funds for government-provided services, like public education, is not to take more money from people. Our taxes already are too high. Taking so much money discourages productivity. The key is to decrease the tax burden and grow the economy.
I've already heard that my campaign's emphasis on RESPONSIVENESS TO UTAH ISSUES is boring. So be it. Splash often obscures substance, but that doesn't mean substance is unimportant. Let me give an example.
Here is an article charging that BLM personnel are not taking enough time to review environmental impacts before drilling permits are issued in the Uintah Basin. Obviously, such charges will be used as a club by environmental groups out to curtail drilling. Already permits (and jobs and revenue) have been throttled by BLM's inability to process applications fast enough. This news potentially means even slower turn-around and less economic activity and government revenue.
What would I do as a U.S. Senator? Simple. As officials from the Uintah Basin have been asking for some time now, I would move more BLM personnel to the Basin to process the applications. Result: more permits and more consideration of environmental concerns. Not magic. Just effort. This doesn't take seniority. It takes focus. This issue wouldn't land me on CNN, but it would be significant for Utah.
posted by steve u. at 7/25/2005
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10 Comments:
This is the type of representation we need.
The people of Utah are very smart. If the the average Utahn understood how much the use of Utah federal lands effect their lives, I think they would be very interested.
Nobody wants to be told to eat their vegetables but those things are the foods that make us strong and healthy and ready for the future.
I wouldn't say that "responsiveness to Utah issues" was boring, but it does leave a lot up to the imagination. My biggest complaint with your current campaign site is the amount of information you don't offer, particularly about your views on national issues. For instance, I'd love to knwo where you stand on:
- Privacy
- civil liberties vs. the PATRIOT act
- Copyright and patent reform
- Consumer rights vs. the DMCA
- Education, and the proper balance of federal, state and local control. (What do you believe that balance to be?)
- Social Security reform
- Health care
- Energy and our dependence on foreign oil
These are just a few examples off the top of my head. I'm sure there are plenty more to be thought of. Use your imagination :)
By now, we all know where Orrin Hatch stands. His record makes that clear. Pete Ashdown has done pretty well stating his ideas, too. Your site, though, leaves us to wonder, and that makes it difficult to decide whether to support you or not.
anonymous,
It seems that you have posted several times on Steve's site. Of course I cannot be sure but several anonymous posts have the same tone. It is really not that hard to get a blogger id, and it sure helps a discussion if everything is out on the table. I guess it is just hard for me to listen when I do not know who is talking.
I also want to point out how great it is to have a public forum where one could ask a candidate questions like you do and can get a response. There is no way Hatch would respond like Steve does. First of all, there is no way to contact Hatch like there is to contact Steve. Secondly, Hatch does not seem to care what Utahns think, that is the problem.
I think if you spend some time following Steve's blog you will know exactly where he stands. And if you don't know, just ask.
I have been involved in the permitting process for a number of years now and can tell you that Senator Hatch has been very instrumental in providing more resources for the permitting process. His energy bill amendments provide and additional $3 million to ramp up BLM staff to expedite the permitting process. I hope that he can get it through the Congress and keep it in the final bill.
Bill-
Do you work for Senator Hatch? Your response sounds like it came from his press agent.
No matter how much you suggest that Senator Hatch is responsive to these issues, the fact remains that there is still a bottle neck in the process, he's had 36 years to work on it. Are you suggesting that just a few more years and he'll fix it? It time for a change.
Josh
Bill, you sound uber supportive of Hatch and at the same time hedging--even if Hatch's bill amendments don't pass, or the parts that matter in this case for Utah, at least he tried. Enough trying and touting that the best chances for things to get done is to have one with seniority. It hasn't been working. I will take energy and focus over seniority.
Very few will argue that Hatch's prime is still to come. We appreciate his past service. But it's time to turn the page.
Utah is in a unique situation. Our fuel consumption is pretty much equal to our production. As such, changes in fuel prices manifest themselves in strange ways. Increases and decreases in price transfers money from consumer to producer in a closed market. I've always found this an interesting dynamic.
I have to admit, though, that I am not convinced that expediting oil leases at this time is good for the Utah economy.
Let's see: If we expedite the oil leases pump it out today we will we get $60.00 a barrel. But, if we go through the long deliberative process, we will be forced to wait and pump the oil out when it costs $100 a barrel. I really don't see how Utah loses by deliberation.
Imagine if the oil industry got its way and we pumped out the oil when it was $20.00. Then it would be gone and we wouldn't be getting the taxes from the $60 oil.
I guess if our definition of political leadership stops with the next quarter financial report, then this is good leadership. Personally, I see the current rush to bypass deliberative process as part of the boom and bust mantality that keeps wracking our economy.
I just heard that Bush is going to sign the energy bill today - it passed and it has all of Senator Hatch's amendments in it - BLM permitting, geothermal, oil shale and tar sands, and refinery expansion. I talked to a Sinclair Refinery guy the other day and he said that the refinery expansion tax credits are the single most important changes to the law, for refiners, that have taken place in the last 25 years.
Also, Josh, hatch has only been in office 28.5 years, not 36. But whatever, when you don't deal with the real facts who cares what your numbers are
I just heard that Bush is going to sign the energy bill today - it passed and it has all of Senator Hatch's amendments in it - BLM permitting, geothermal, oil shale and tar sands, and refinery expansion. I talked to a Sinclair Refinery guy the other day and he said that the refinery expansion tax credits are the single most important changes to the law, for refiners, that have taken place in the last 25 years.
Also, Josh, hatch has only been in office 28.5 years, not 36. But whatever, when you don't deal with the real facts who cares what your numbers are
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