Former Louisiana Governor and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, David Treen was a republican conservative who did not preach or govern by ideology. That is an important difference compared to republicans of today who use ideology as their driver on the issues.
As pointed out before here in PolitiDose, Treen recognized the problem of coastal erosion and the destruction and loss of Louisiana's wetlands due to oil and gas related drilling, pipelines and etc. But unlike elected officials today, Treen had a plan to deal with the situation called CWEL.(Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy).
Elected officials in Louisiana today who represent the state in the legislature and congress oppose the suit against the oil industry filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority to repair the damage caused to the environment due to oil, gas and pipeline operations in the state. In fact a measure is supposed to be introduced during the current session of the legislature to ban such suits and at the same time make the legislation retroactive to cover the present suit.
Governor Treen was on the right track with his proposal called CWEL and recognized the problem and thought it should be addressed. Ideology played no part in CWEL. Below is a letter to the editors of the Times Picayune written by Treen on the matter dated 3/9/09.
Tax Transport Of Oil and Gas
Withe all the anguish about budget cuts the state will have to make, including massive cuts to education and helath care, it is time to get well with CWEL, The Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy, could be inacted by the legislature at the coming session. The levy is on the transport of oil and gas across Louisiana's coastal zone, which is an area federally recognized as needing protection from coastal erosion.
The levy is not on the oil and gas. It is a levy on the movement of oil and gas across the coastal zone. This levy would also apply to oil and gas produced in Louisiana, which is transported across the coastal zone. If the levy is passed on to the consumers of oil and gas, the impact on Louisiana will be negligible, since 85% of the consumers are out of state.
With gas at approximately $4 per MCF and oil at $50 or more per barrel, a few pennies on each would produce substantial revenue with the impact on Louisiana hardly noticeable.
Former Governor, David C. Treen
Governor Treen displayed his courage in such a proposal and understood there are taxes that are worth while that would help the people and the state. Our elected officials failure to hold the oil industry responsible for the damage it caused is shameful. For them, the future is like the failed past when it comes to the state's environment. The suit by the Flood Protection Authority is a slap in the face for their failure to do their job. Louisiana and its people deserve better. David Treen was a serious public servant and a republican conservative who put the state, its people and the country first. Ant that really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
