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OtherWords / Op-Ed
Published: Monday 10 October 2011
“Led by Valero Energy Corp., at least 16 huge refiners are trying to poke a lucrative loophole into Texas tax laws.”
Big Oil: $135 Million - School Children: 0
When is it not enough to have too much? Apparently, when you're a giant oil corporation.
Big Oil's avaricious honchos are always searching for another dime they can slip into their corporate pockets, no matter whom it hurts. A crude example of their ceaseless money grab is presently unfolding in Texas.
Led by Valero Energy Corp., one of the nation’s largest petro-dealers, at least 16 huge refiners are trying to poke a lucrative loophole into the state’s tax laws. Since 2007, these refiners have been required by the EPA to help cut the deadly air pollution spewing from America’s vehicles by installing “hydrotreater” equipment that removes toxic sulfur dioxide from the gasoline they sell.
They did — but they’re petulantly demanding a retroactive refund on property taxes they’ve paid since then on the hydrotreaters, claiming that any industrial equipment that reduces on-site pollution is tax-exempt. Nice try, but the professional staff of the state environmental agency points out that this reduction in air pollution doesn’t occur on-site, but in people’s cars. Indeed, the air around the refineries is actually more toxic now, because the corporations are simply burning off the sulfur dioxide they remove from the gasoline.
However, Valero appealed to the agency’s political appointees, all named by Texas’ corporate-hugging governor, Rick Perry. Sure enough, the politicos are expected to hand out some $135 million in tax refunds to the oil giants. Where will that money come from? Nearly half would be ripped right out of the local school budgets that were already decimated by Perry’s $4-billion cut this spring in state funding for local districts.
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ABOUT Jim Hightower
National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
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11 comments on "Big Oil: $135 Million - School Children: 0"
bnnamrih
December 26, 2011 11:25pm
This article reminds me of a Simpson's episode where Monty Burns Steals the elementary schools Oil money. Or is it....
October 12, 2011 9:40am
i am not just talkin the talk ---i will be walkin the walk as should all dems!
October 10, 2011 7:05pm
As a retired refinery engineer, I'm surprised that even Texas would allow them to burn the sulfur removed from the gasoline. It should be converted to elemental sulfur and sold, and most states would require that to be done. Does Texas really allow it to be burned?
October 10, 2011 7:04pm
As a retired refinery engineer, I'm surprised that even Texas would allow them to burn the sulfur removed from the gasoline. It should be converted to elemental sulfur and sold, and most states would require that to be done. Does Texas really allow it to be burned?
October 10, 2011 4:18pm
Jim,
"Kids? Who cares about kids? They are expendable. We have more of the little rug-rats don't we?" So says big oil, run by creepy little people.
Take a look at this. Big oil is a key driver in the "Modern Piratical Capitalism" movement. We need to stop these guys, NOW!
THE NEW AMERICAN PIRATES, ARE KILLING AMERICANS.
This story is not about glamorized or fictional piracy. This is, “real piracy.”
Hundreds of our wealthiest leaders and most powerful corporations know that in the next few years, they will be able to siphon, skim, and steal, so much “NEW CASH,” that they and their progeny will be ultra-rich for generations to come.
No, this is not funny, or fiction, or a conspiracy, it is just simple greed and simple theft.
The new pirates of America have launched an all-out siege on us in order to capture, amass, and hold trillions of dollars for themselves.
All of the recent political power grabs and nonsensical debating is purely a slight-of-hand deflection. President Obama, Democrats, Republicans, the International Press, and even the Tea Party, are watching the tiny pea in the shell game…while the rich and powerful “Piratical Right” is stealing America right out from under us.
Consider that their combined total plunder from corporate flipping, downsizing, offshore labor, speculation, price fixing of oil and energy plus, corruption in defense, health care, banking, student loans, foreclosures, etc., etc., is a trillion dollar treasure for these pirates.
Go ahead, put your own calculator to it.
Are they smarter than we are? Yes, and they are laughing at us. I, we, you, and all of us, have not been able see the big picture of what is happening to our own country and to our own people. The rape and theft of America, has been cleverly packaged, promoted, and sold under the guise of “cost-cutting,” “deregulation,” and “free enterprise.”
The “Piratical Right” is directly responsible for millions of people dying, getting sick, losing their jobs and homes, losing their ability to fight, their spirit, and even losing their will to live. The sick smell of this carnage now permeates the air across America.
To us, this is all unimaginable, because we look for some sense or the morality of things. These modern-day American pirates however, have no moral compass. They are devoid of any conscience, humanity or soul, and are feeding on the flesh of the American people.
Don’t look to the President, the Senate, Congress, the press, or any political party to help. Sadly, they just don’t see it, don’t care, or are part of it. “We the people” are on our own. Start asking questions. Demand answers. If we don’t fight back America…who will?
History has taught us how to stop piracy.
By Mr. S. Pimpernel 10/01/2011
Background: I have secretly worked inside of a famous Right Wing organization plus, have 30+ years working with the Fortune 100 and face-to-face with their Presidents. If anyone thinks my comments are over-the-top, then I suggest they put a couple of good researchers and accountants on it and crunch their own numbers.
October 10, 2011 2:11pm
So, to summarize, the companies are polluting MORE "on the grounds of the plants," but are demanding a tax refund based on the fact that their gas is now cleaner, as required by the law?
Their actions obviously flout the intent of the law. Don't give them a penny, for such double-dealing double-talk!
October 10, 2011 1:24pm
Perry is just as bad or worse than Bush. Thank God for the Occupy movement. It is finally time for the people to voice their frustration with a government that no longer represents them, but instead panders to lobbyist and large campaign contributors. And Obama has to know that we are out there. All the media focus on millionnaires views. It's time the 99% of us are represented. It is time we are heard.
October 10, 2011 12:58pm
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/occupytheinternet-thevirtualtent/ Wanna stop acting like a Monkey trying to 'eat' a football? Then PITCH YOUR CYBERTENT in SOLIDARITY with “POWER TO THE PEOPLE” of the WORLD! ...@ OCCUPYtheINTERNET.ORG!!...TELL DC’s POLS to GET OUTTA BED with WALL ST's GANG-BANKERS
October 10, 2011 12:57pm
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/occupytheinternet-thevirtualtent/ Wanna stop acting like a Monkey trying to 'eat' a football? Then PITCH YOUR CYBERTENT in SOLIDARITY with “POWER TO THE PEOPLE” of the WORLD! ...@ OCCUPYtheINTERNET.ORG!!...TELL DC’s POLS to GET OUTTA BED with WALL ST's GANG-BANKERS
October 10, 2011 12:03pm
OMG!!! How far will they go? Kill all of the people? Then who will buy your gasoline? Stupid, selfish, greedy, corporations. Shameful behavior. They must not be human. Maybe they arrived on some alien spacecraft and so therefore do not care not even a little bit about their felllow human beings. No wonder Americans of every persuasion are ready to OCCUPY! Enough is enough.