Regardless of our deficit or our inability to control our spending, we should receive a fair amount of tax for our oil. I believe that at today’s oil prices that is not happening under SB21 (nor would it be happening under ACES). I further believe that HB11 has been too compromised to be the solution.  

SB21 is too complex, we need to return to a simple means of obtaining a fair tax on our oil, in addition to the royalties paid to the State. Perhaps the consultants who are currently working for the legislature will shed more light on the problem.    

It would be interesting to see a table that shows an annual per barrel breakdown of the value of the oil, and then the various deductions from that barrel for royalty, taxes, shipping costs, etc. for that oil since it began being shipped from the slope.  I would tend to think this would be informative in evaluating where we are with our current tax structure.  Perhaps it already exists, if not it might be illustrative.