No giveaways
In "Natural gas better for economy, environment" (May 20 Opinion), T. Boone Pickens tried to justify new subsidies for natural gas while targeting Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, for opposing them. For the record, the congressman is not alone; a large number of disparate groups oppose these new giveaways.
Given that the country is facing a $14 trillion debt, no new subsidies can be justified — no matter how appealing they may seem.
The NAT GAS Act provides subsidies for natural gas from manufacturing and infrastructure to tax credits — carrying an estimated $5 billion price tag. Pickens claims that subsidies will expire in five years. Sorry, we've heard that one before. In fact, some of the tax breaks in the bill are extending and expanding expiring provisions.
In this budgetary climate, members should demonstrate fiscal restraint and not pile on more blatantly narrow subsidies. We want Congress to stop picking winners and losers in the tax code. That means eliminating all the energy subsidies.
RYAN ALEXANDER
President
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Washington, D.C.
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