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Should Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Oil Spills?

foxbusiness.com -- Representative Alcee Hastings, (D-FL), introduced a bill that would abolish write-offs oil companies take on their tax returns for the costs of cleaning up their oil spills.

Taxpayers have footed oil companies’ cleanup costs for decades. For instance, BP can deduct on its tax returns cleanup costs and settlements for its massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Estimates already show those costs may amount to $32 billion, which could translate into a $10 billion tax write-off for the oil major.

But these deductions are meant for the "ordinary costs of doing business," reads the tax law.

Are oil spills “business as usual’? Or should taxpayers foot the bill for oil companies’ own negligence?

...slamming this loophole shut would save taxpayers an average $1.3 billion annually.

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Submitted Feb 07, 2012 By: teafortwo

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1006 Champion Author Birmingham Posts:1,017 Points:1,104,730 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2012 4:59:33 PM Ignore 1006 Report Abuse who pays anyway? the consumer.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:15,957 Points:1,245,100 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2012 3:07:25 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse since Pig Oil already gets taxpayers subsidies and lots of tax breaks, let's have Pig Oil foot that bill for once w/out recourse of putting it back into the cartell prices.
FordF2502001 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:6,214 Points:1,256,345 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 6:50:49 AM Ignore FordF2502001 Report Abuse Interesting concept Bobcat. What do you think taxing oil companies double would do to gas prices?
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:4,794 Points:1,500,520 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 12:44:53 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse NO !!!!!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:26,020 Points:1,981,410 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2012 12:10:10 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Should Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Oil Spills? Or Should Oil Companies Foot the Bill for Oil Spills? If the oil companies pay for their oil spill cleanup, restoration and victim compensation, it will be passed on in the sale of their fuel. If the Taxpayers pay for the oil spill clean up, why should they! Either way, the oil companies will Not pay for it. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
Krykson All-Star Author Chicago Posts:840 Points:247,185 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 11:36:25 PM Ignore Krykson Report Abuse Interesting
chuckwthompson Champion Author Charlotte Posts:1,870 Points:213,535 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 10:22:29 PM Ignore chuckwthompson Report Abuse Either way we pay...
Suzzoom All-Star Author Nevada Posts:606 Points:161,540 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:53:37 PM Ignore Suzzoom Report Abuse As long as they get these write-offs, they won't mind a spill here & there. Close the loopholes & make them pay all the costs of the cleanups. If it hurts them financially, then they'll think twice.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,095 Points:233,625 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:48:26 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Hell NO
trinda1 Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:1,739 Points:398,955 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:43:40 PM Ignore trinda1 Report Abuse Good job and good looking out. If its not the republican trying to do us in, it's the oil and gas man which are mostly the same people. Get them!
ammamama13 Rookie Author California Posts:68 Points:53,550 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:42:11 PM Ignore ammamama13 Report Abuse no, but as always the taxpayer will always end up paying.
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,085 Points:415,320 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:33:05 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse oil companies who spill should be responsible.
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,085 Points:415,320 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:32:35 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse no
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:9,039 Points:1,767,585 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:31:06 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse The spiller should pay, not the taxpayer. Just another oil subsidy of the billions of dollars annually worth on the books.
mrmopar1970 Sophomore Author Tennessee Posts:106 Points:98,605 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:28:32 PM Ignore mrmopar1970 Report Abuse No the oil company should
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:5,545 Points:861,700 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:27:34 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse This question should not even be on gas buddy. The only ones that would say yes would be big oil & our greedy lawmakers.
Double_Golden All-Star Author San Francisco Posts:725 Points:240,780 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:26:01 PM Ignore Double_Golden Report Abuse HELL NOOOOO, Who ever spill it, pay for it to clean up, is it that hard to figure it out
heartbroken2010 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,502 Points:533,455 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:25:55 PM Ignore heartbroken2010 Report Abuse assume the risk out of the ' profits" , simple.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:9,787 Points:1,996,115 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:23:53 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse Big NOOO! take it from the producers profits.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:4,060 Points:492,465 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:22:45 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Oil spills of that magnitude are not 'ordinary cost of doing businessw" This is a foul-up of the worst kind and usually due to carelessness. They should not have a tax write-off.
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:1,490 Points:1,279,485 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:22:15 PM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Amen brother! Guarantee the Republican Representatives wouldn't go for something like that. They would lose their Payoffs!
herndonks All-Star Author Baltimore Posts:905 Points:169,285 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:20:59 PM Ignore herndonks Report Abuse No
tampacrvdriver Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,711 Points:358,350 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:20:29 PM Ignore tampacrvdriver Report Abuse Of course not.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:7,759 Points:1,248,900 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:20:20 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse This sounds like a loophole worthy of closing. Of course, if Big Oil cannot deduct its cleanup costs it will just add them into the price of fuel. The people will pay for it one way or another.
min_fuel Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,820 Points:654,545 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:17:30 PM Ignore min_fuel Report Abuse o. Make them pay. Drillers will be much more careful.
sunyem Rookie Author Dallas Posts:14 Points:1,690 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:15:31 PM Ignore sunyem Report Abuse Too bad politicians care more about the lobbyists and companies that give them political contributions and other perks than they do about the taxpayers.
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,642 Points:1,739,925 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:13:01 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse The tax payer will pay the bill either way.
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,676 Points:1,305,505 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:12:32 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse We should cutoff all the loopholes that allow this.
alaric76 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:14,595 Points:2,669,650 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:10:58 PM Ignore alaric76 Report Abuse of course not!
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:8,686 Points:1,495,245 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:10:30 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse No....we didn't cause it, we don't get the profits....but I'm sure we are paying for it anyways due to the HIGH GAS prices!
outlaw329 Champion Author Austin Posts:5,806 Points:1,032,780 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:09:34 PM Ignore outlaw329 Report Abuse no!
CdnLynx Veteran Author Ontario Posts:344 Points:223,300 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:09:06 PM Ignore CdnLynx Report Abuse No! I'll expand on that. Industry in general has gov't in their back pockets; gov't is supposed to be representative of it people, not the influential that pay off gov't for special considerations. This problem is not just the petroleum industry; it's systemic throughout the corporate world, both in democracies and in totalitarian gov'ts around the world. It's these very unethical/corrupt activities that fuel discontent, throughout the masses, and enlists the disenfranchised into the Occupy and activities by Anonymous. As mass-media, with instant communication grows the polarization against corruption will also increase. I believe this will the ultimate downfall of corrupt business/gov't/criminals, as there will be less and less they will be able to get away with.
kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:2,865 Points:1,280,845 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:09:05 PM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse no no no no!
Beboper Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,884 Points:1,799,690 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:08:36 PM Ignore Beboper Report Abuse no
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:5,430 Points:1,380,305 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:08:13 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse In a word "NO"!
KnoxGasPriceSpy Champion Author Knoxville Posts:62,954 Points:556,695 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:07:07 PM Ignore KnoxGasPriceSpy Report Abuse except.... they'll just pass off their cost to the consumers...
LCSTEELERBOB Champion Author Gary Posts:2,239 Points:548,800 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:06:28 PM Ignore LCSTEELERBOB Report Abuse do we really think the right people will close the loophole and lose all their payoffs and graft???
gocatgo Champion Author South Carolina Posts:13,293 Points:2,166,230 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:06:10 PM Ignore gocatgo Report Abuse I don't care what that sell out Joe Barton (R) of Texas says, NO!
mpg611 All-Star Author Cleveland Posts:550 Points:207,910 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:01:19 PM Ignore mpg611 Report Abuse NO, no, and no.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,022 Points:1,270,040 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 9:00:55 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Give it a rest confetti. Completely absurd nonsense for a local hick judge representing BIG OIL. ie in BIG OIL's backpocket.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,022 Points:1,270,040 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:58:13 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse ABSOLUTELY NOT! Excellent Bill. Let's see how far it gets in our dear and ever so caring Congress. These cleanup expenses are definitely not an ordinary expense as described in the U.S. Tax Code. Don't forget BIG OIL loves us!
Throroughbred Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,031 Points:1,210,745 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:57:59 PM Ignore Throroughbred Report Abuse In most cases absolutely not.
bonzoonfmb All-Star Author Florida Posts:534 Points:354,975 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:56:23 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Foreign companies no. Domestic companies maybe.
carman11 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,449 Points:326,670 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:54:41 PM Ignore carman11 Report Abuse NO
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:1,444 Points:234,430 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:52:21 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse NO!!
Kamakani Champion Author Hawaii Posts:2,477 Points:1,025,650 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:50:26 PM Ignore Kamakani Report Abuse Heck NO!
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:4,152 Points:915,380 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:50:12 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse No way.
menagerie1013 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,044 Points:346,225 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:48:10 PM Ignore menagerie1013 Report Abuse The oil companies should foot the bill.
skyking19 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:1,574 Points:1,419,870 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:48:06 PM Ignore skyking19 Report Abuse NO!
PAborn54 All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:954 Points:629,805 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2012 8:45:48 PM Ignore PAborn54 Report Abuse About time oil companies take responsibility for their screw ups.