Congresswoman Virginia Foxx voiced strong opposition yesterday against a new bill that will keep North Carolina from receiving revenue from new offshore oil drilling. Instead of going to the state, all revenue from new offshore drilling leases will go straight to the federal government. Foxx said the new bill would lock North Carolina out of a share of the $2.6 trillion in tax revenue from new drilling off North Carolina shores. Foxx called this a “sham.”
Gulf coast states like Texas and Louisiana currently receive a share of revenues from offshore drilling, which last year amounted to around $9 billion. Foxx said the new 290-page bill was introduced just before midnight Monday, only hours before it was scheduled for a vote. Foxx reported it does not allow amendments and the bill was written behind closed doors without going through the normal committee process.
Gulf coast states like Texas and Louisiana currently receive a share of revenues from offshore drilling, which last year amounted to around $9 billion. Foxx said the new 290-page bill was introduced just before midnight Monday, only hours before it was scheduled for a vote. Foxx reported it does not allow amendments and the bill was written behind closed doors without going through the normal committee process.
