Budget proposal is harmful  By Don Stowers The Independent
Petroleum Association of America rarely gets this upset about a
new government policy. However, on Feb. 26, the Obama
administration delivered a body blow to the industry when it
proposed a colossal $30 billion tax increase (as part of the
2010 budget) on US energy producers. IPAA management and
staffers were livid that the President would attempt to derail
domestic oil and natural gas production at a time when the
economy is in shambles and the country is importing more and
more of its energy needs. So much for energy independence.
There is faint hope that Congress will modify the proposed
budget and remove some of the more loathsome provisions.
However, any such changes would have to come in the Senate
because the House leadership likely helped craft the budget
proposal or at least contributed in some way to the anti-oil tax
provisions.  The IPAA exists to help protect the interests of
independent oil and gas producers â not so-called Big Oil, bu