This writer's past commentaries concerning Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy known as (CWEL) which was proposed by former Louisiana Republican governor David Treen would levy a tax on oil and natural gas transported thru Louisiana as a way of raising state revenue to deal with the environmental damage done by oil drilling, production and pipeline operations in Louisiana. Treen offered CWEL in the early 1980's. The Oil Industry opposed CWEL and the state legislature never took up the matter.
Now 30 plus lears later, CWEL has taken center stage. An editorial in the New Orleans Advocate dated 10/7 titled, "Save Our Coast" co-authored by Quin Hillyer and John Barry who want Louisiana to move forward and adopt a limited, fair and reasonable Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levey that would levy a tax to apply to the transport of oil and gas moving in Louisiana. The levy or tax would supplement Louisiana's trust fund for wetlands preservation and restoration.
Both Hillyer and Barry agree in the editorial that the energy industry caused significant damage to the coast. Both also believe pipelines and canals by their own very nature threaten the marshlands. Hillyer is a conservative, a New Orleans Advocate columnist and a contributing editor for the National Review. Barry is a liberal and former VP of The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East that filed the law suit against 97 Oil companies for damages caused by their operations to Louisiana's wetlands, marshes and coast. Hillyer opposed both CWEL in the past and the above law suit.
The co-authors are a Johnny come lately on CWEL since this writers commantary published in "PolitiDose" dated 5/10/10 titled, Its time for Louisiana;s legislature to act on CWEL. But better late than never and hopefully their editorial will influence the state to have a real debate on the subject matter. Regulations have proved to be inadequent because of the relationship between elected officials and the special interest of big oil who have acted irresponsible in destroying the states environment with their operations.
Former governor David Treen was on target over 30 years ago with CWEL but no one would listen. Filing of the law suit by the Levee Board was necessary because our elected officials did not do their job and inforce the laws. They simply did not care and neither did the oil companies who caused the damage and just laughed at their responsibilities to the state and its people.
PolitiDose has been in the forefront and understood governor Treen's proposal was and still is relevant today and a sound way in upkeeing and restoring Louisiana's environment. "PolitiDose", your daily dose of political commentary will continue to comment on those issues that really matter and make a difference.
Note: Check out previous commentary concerning CWEL.
a) The Wisdom Of Former Governor David Treen 4/22/14
b) Louisiana's Ecosystem Restoration 7/20/11
c) The Con Game Is On 9/30/10
d) Its Time For Legislature To Act On CWEL 5/10/10
This commentary written By John Lucia
