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Author	Topic: MT Crow tribe's coal credit threatened by 'fiscal cliff'	Post a Reply Back to Topics

Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,012 Points:1,743,785 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:41:54 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse by Gregory Korte, USA TODAY Published: 11/18/2012 07:04pm WASHINGTON -- The Westmoreland Coal Co. gets $2.26 from the IRS for every ton of coal it mines off the Crow Indian reservation in Montana. That mine, in turn, supports the tribe through millions in taxes and royalties -- and 100 jobs with an average salary of $75,000. That tax credit is one of the more obscure of the dozens of tax provisions set to expire Dec. 31 as part of the so-called fiscal cliff. And tribal leaders worry that without the credit, the mine could close. "The Crow reservation has never had much in the way of economic development for as long as we've all known it," said Bill Watt, the tribal attorney. "We have 40% unemployment on reservations. We don't have opportunities in this sparsely populated area for casin Visit USA TODAY for full article

Joeski1

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Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:41:54 AM

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by Gregory Korte, USA TODAY

Published: 11/18/2012 07:04pm

WASHINGTON -- The Westmoreland Coal Co. gets $2.26 from the IRS for every ton of coal it mines off the Crow Indian reservation in Montana. That mine, in turn, supports the tribe through millions in taxes and royalties -- and 100 jobs with an average salary of $75,000.

That tax credit is one of the more obscure of the dozens of tax provisions set to expire Dec. 31 as part of the so-called fiscal cliff. And tribal leaders worry that without the credit, the mine could close.

"The Crow reservation has never had much in the way of economic development for as long as we've all known it," said Bill Watt, the tribal attorney. "We have 40% unemployment on reservations. We don't have opportunities in this sparsely populated area for casin
Visit USA TODAY for full article

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LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,615 Points:1,207,430 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 20, 2012 11:52:33 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Very interesting article Joe...thanks for posting. This gave me a new perspective on Coal mining.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,550 Points:768,650 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Nov 20, 2012 1:52:46 PM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse Joeski1 comment is “#1) There are fossil fuel subsidies.” -- No Joeski1, this does not prove that there are fossil fuel subsidies but it does prove that there is a very miniscule coal production subsidy in effect to assist the Crow tribe. You attempt to paint with too broad a brush to support your agenda so very often seen on this blog. OrphancarguyPE comment is “If coal is 'such a good thing' then why does it need subsidies to pollute with high sulfur and high toxic heavy metals?” -- If the argument you expressed is really valid OrphancarguyPE, then what does your argument really say about the billions upon billions of taxpayer funds that have been given/loaned/granted to the wind and solar energy industries? It is quite obvious to supporters and detractors alike that the wind and solar industries cannot stand on their own two feet and have survived to this point based only on the governmental subsidies received to date. [Edited by: MAC48 at 11/20/2012 1:56:59 PM EST]
GDAE Champion Author Wichita Posts:1,160 Points:222,850 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:18:44 PM Ignore GDAE Report Abuse We've been screwing the Indians for hundreds of years now.
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,616 Points:901,575 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 6:54:33 PM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse While interesting, this article fails the gas buddy guidelines !! Where is the connection Joe to gas, or oil ??
SUNOIL Champion Author Toledo Posts:5,255 Points:1,927,955 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 5:00:43 PM Ignore SUNOIL Report Abuse Don't worry about the cliff, they are working it out
bluetruck54 Champion Author Quad Cities Posts:1,482 Points:444,735 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:03:42 PM Ignore bluetruck54 Report Abuse another tax credit this is a waste of money.
Ken2OD Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:9,082 Points:1,973,890 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:59:22 AM Ignore Ken2OD Report Abuse DAMNED if you do and DAMNED if you don't!
skinsfan125 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,557 Points:284,450 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:35:59 AM Ignore skinsfan125 Report Abuse ok
AriesMMD Champion Author Sacramento Posts:1,496 Points:413,940 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:16:40 AM Ignore AriesMMD Report Abuse Why not just send out blankets and cloth infected with the ebola virus and finnish off the job that government agents started 130 years ago?
RitaVespa Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,991 Points:794,310 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:13:13 AM Ignore RitaVespa Report Abuse How can they have 40% unemployment? How much government money is already spent on this reservation? Get rid of tax credit
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,626 Points:246,140 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:05:19 AM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse Maybe they should return to attacking wagon trains.
Goddeciano1 Rookie Author Ontario Posts:24 Points:1,880 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:04:17 AM Ignore Goddeciano1 Report Abuse Thanks
Skunk63 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,562 Points:560,245 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:02:06 AM Ignore Skunk63 Report Abuse Flawed from the outset. It should never have been subsidized.
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,440 Points:519,050 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 11:01:07 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Diversify!
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,626 Points:246,140 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:59:51 AM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse Did the "tribal attorney" mention they all voted for Obama for president? No sympathy from me.
lesabreAZ Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,696 Points:413,430 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:58:56 AM Ignore lesabreAZ Report Abuse avg of $75k? low end would be $37500...
RONALD777 Champion Author Houston Posts:2,447 Points:365,680 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:56:46 AM Ignore RONALD777 Report Abuse I am sure they will still get their welfare checks every month.
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,860 Points:736,940 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:52:18 AM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse Joeski1 has it nailed. If coal is 'such a good thing' then why does it need subsidies to pollute with high sulfur and high toxic heavy metals? Tough luck on the Crow, but then again, if they had been thinking ahead, some of the royalties could have developed lots of local and sustainable industries over time. 5 jobs here, 2 jobs there, 6 jobs in yet another place--it all adds up over time.
mazdaboy Champion Author Portland Posts:7,898 Points:2,100,205 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:48:47 AM Ignore mazdaboy Report Abuse Probably don't want any fracking on their land.
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,335 Points:312,115 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:48:32 AM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse Once again...if you can't operate without government subsidies then you are not economically feasible... The Crow do not want to take grants due to pride...Well Pride goes just before the fall...
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,012 Points:1,743,785 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:45:33 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse #1) There are fossil fuel subsidies. #2) why aren't these folks doing something sustainable instead of mining high sulfur coal at our expense?
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,342 Points:162,925 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 10:45:08 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse Why should they be exempt!