UPDATE: Severance Tax: As If Energy Costs Weren't Already Out of Control..."Hey, Let's Raise Taxes on 'Em"

So, let me get this right. Gas prices are over $3/gallon, home heating costs are higher than ever, and our governor wants to RAISE taxes on energy production???

Everybody keeps talking about this like it makes sense to raise taxes. Max Brantley said the other day that the tax was "ridiculously low", or something to that effect. That pretty well encapsulates the mindset of people advocating this tax increase.

Based on what?

Neighboring states?

Who cares. If neighboring states had a 50% income tax, would that make it a good idea?

Is there a dire need for revenue? Not the last time I checked. The last time I checked state government was still flush with our cash. But they want more of it.

The best way to do that is to tax us one at a time. Go after people who are easily demonized. "Oh, those evil oil companies." Say nothing of the fact that WE are the end users of their product. We have to keep our homes warm and our governor wants to drive that price up based on nothing but the notion that other states tax them more heavily...

What's wrong with this world when there is no compelling reason to raise a tax other than, "well, the other states are doing it?"

Every Arkansan should rise up in protest, but most of them won't. Even though each of us will pay this tax in the form of higher energy costs, most of us will think we're really sticking it to those evil oil companies. Energy won't be the most expensive thing we get out of this. Ignorance will.

Update: This from Andrew DeMillo's coverage for AP,

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Nelson says his proposal to raise the rate and change how natural gas production is taxed will reform an outdated tax that has lagged behind other states. And, he says, it will bring in between $60 million and $100 million for the state's roads, local governments and colleges.

"(Natural gas companies) have gotten a free ride for a long time here," Nelson told reporters when he submitted his proposed initiated act to the attorney general's office.

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No, Mr. Nelson, Arkansans have gotten a free ride, and that's about to change, apparently. The $60-100 million will come right out of the pocket of Arkansans. Again, this is an example of liberals thinking more highly of government revenue than the budgets of average Arkansans.

This rhetoric is turning my stomach. Too many people are ignorantly giving this a pass because they think someone else will pay for it. WAKE UP. We are all going to pay for it. This isn't a tax increase on the gas industry. There's no such thing. It's a tax increase on us.

Here's the link to Roby Brock's coverage for Arkansas News.

Here's the link to DeMillo's coverage for AP.