SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 71
(By Senators Green, Deem, D. Facemire, Guills, Kessler, Minard,
Stollings, Sypolt, Williams and Yost)
[Originating in the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining;
reported April 7, 2009]
Recognizing the importance of the oil and natural gas industry in
West Virginia and requesting West Virginia's congressional
delegation to support the oil and natural gas industry.
Whereas, The Legislature works tirelessly to improve the
quality of life for the citizens of the Mountain State; and
Whereas, Oil and Natural Gas Industry has been, and continues
to be, one of the primary industries responsible for the economic
success of West Virginia and its citizens; and
Whereas, Thousands of West Virginians are employed, either
directly or indirectly, by the oil and natural gas industry which
generates payrolls totaling over $1 billion; and
Whereas, Production, transmission, storage and distribution of
oil and natural gas currently accounts for the payment of millions
of dollars in severance taxes, millions of dollars in income taxes
and millions of dollars in other related taxes paid to the State of
West Virginia; and
Whereas, County governments and county school systems
throughout the state rely on the taxes from oil and natural gas
companies that annually fund many valuable programs, including
public education, ambulance services and law enforcement; and
Whereas, The reduction of West Virginia's oil and natural gas
production and the loss of any oil- and natural gas-related
employment ultimately results in significant harm to all West
Virginians; and
Whereas, The United States of America, in its effort to become
energy independent, may be compromised if oil and natural gas
investment is not maintained; and
Whereas, Concerns have been raised about President Obama's
proposal to eliminate a number of key tax incentives which have
benefitted the domestic natural gas industry; and
Whereas, Continued incentives will allow for development of
geophysical analysis necessary to evaluate known reserves such as
the Marcellus Shale and other shale formations vital for our
domestic reserves; and
Whereas, The continued development of domestic reserves is not
only good energy policy, it is sound fiscal policy and vital to our
national security; and
Whereas, Fewer wells in production would result in significant
direct West Virginia job losses and accompanying loss of property
and severance tax revenues; and
Whereas, The reduction in oil and natural gas development will
keep potential royalty payments to ordinary West Virginians who for
years have waited for and paid property taxes on minerals with the
hope they would be developed; and
Whereas, Actions by the United States Congress should be in an
effort to ensure our domestic energy resources are developed
responsibly in conjunction with federal and state regulatory
agencies; and
Whereas, The United States Congress is responsible for
securing our national defense and providing for our energy
independence from foreign influence; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby recognizes the importance of the
oil and natural gas industry in West Virginia and requesting West
Virginia's congressional delegation to support the oil and natural
gas industry; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the
West Virginia congressional delegation join in opposition to
proposed changes in the United States Tax Code which reduce
incentives that stimulated domestic oil and natural gas production;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the President and
Vice President of the United States, Governor of West Virginia and members of West Virginia's congressional delegation.