HELENA, MT – Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is holding a virtual hearing: Interior’s Royalty Cuts: Thoughtful Policy or Industry Giveaway? The hearing will focus on the public costs and lack of public benefits of the royalty cuts the Trump administration has offered oil and gas drillers operating on public lands during the coronavirus pandemic. Western Values Project published a detailed report on the program prior to the hearing.
That’s the message Western Values Project Director Jayson O’Neill will deliver at a House Natural Resources virtual hearing today at 2:00 PM ET.
“Influential oil and gas corporations secured a raft full of favors during the pandemic, often behind closed doors. Many of the same overleveraged oil and gas corporations awarded bailouts through royalty rate cuts and lease suspensions have millions in unpaid tax liabilities, faced billions in environmental fines, and even double- and tripled-dipped into taxpayer-funded relief programs. We know that many decisions made by this administration will cost taxpayers, states, local communities, and our public lands and waters for generations to come, and this program appears to be no different.”
Watch Live: https://bit.ly/3jnLnnx (Facebook) or https://youtu.be/KSyyK8NchOs (YouTube)
###