WASHINGTON - In their proposals to the deficit committee, Republicans on the Natural Resources Committee are proposing to sell off America's forests and parks, while leaving tens of billions of dollars on the table that could be gained by closing loopholes and breaks given to oil, gas, coal, mining and other corporate interests favored by Republicans. Meanwhile, recommendations from Democrats on the committee would be nearly 20 times greater in total deficit reduction.
The Republican proposals come from a draft letter circulated among committee members by Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.). The letter proposes allowing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, conducting giveaways of timber and mining rights on public lands, and even the selling of public lands like forests and national parks.
The Natural Resources Republicans' draft letter to the deficit committee can be found HERE.
The final Democratic proposals sent to the deficit committee can be found HERE.
"Instead of asking oil, coal, mining and other corporate interests to help close our budget deficit and pay down the national debt, Republicans want to hold a fire sale on America's forests, parks and public lands," said Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee. "Democrats on the committee have offered proposals that would provide nearly 20 times more deficit reduction than the Republican suggestions. Now is the time for real solutions, not more opportunistic giveaways of America's heritage to favored corporations."
Below are the Republican proposals, followed by the Democratic recommendations, including projected amount of deficit reduction over the next 10 years, unless otherwise noted.
Republican giveaways:
* Drilling in the Arctic Refuge ($3 billion, assuming federal government receives 50 percent)
* Increased offshore production of oil and gas ($840 million)
* Increased onshore production of oil and gas (Overall, U.S. oil production is at its highest level in nearly a decade, meaning benefits would be low)
* Public lands fire sale (amount depends on area, location of sale)
* Increased "access" to public lands, including timber sales (undetermined amount, but timber sales often end up costing the government money due to additional infrastructure needed to support them)
TOTAL: Maybe $3.84 billion
Democratic proposals:
* Reforming royalty and land lease pricing for mining on public lands ($3 billion)
* Charging mining companies, not the taxpayer, for abandoned mines ($2 billion)
* Stopping unnecessary payments to states from mining fees ($1.2 billion)
* End the "revenue sharing" oil well welfare for states from offshore drilling ($2 billion over ten years, $150 billion over next 60 years)
* Close Gulf of Mexico free-drilling loophole ($9 billion over ten years, up to $53 billion over 25 years)
* Repeal additional oil drilling royalty relief ($200 million)
* Fee on oil and gas companies holding hostage non-producing oil and gas leases ($874 million)
* Increase payments to taxpayers for oil and gas production on public lands ($
