Get Out And Agitate! Mining Needs to Pay Fair Share

This is from Bob Fulkerson over at PLAN. I’ve got some heavy equipment on my plate, but hope to make it down there on Thursday if not tomorrow:

Let’s demand new revenues with the same passion as we denounce the cuts!
Attend two hearings in Carson City and Las Vegas

Tuesday, April 5, at 1 pm, Senate Revenue Committee, Room 2134 and the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas
Support SB 493 to create a Mining Commission to conduct tax and environmental oversight of the industry, and SJR 15 to end mining’s sweetheart tax loopholes by completely eliminating the mining tax section from the Nevada Constitution. If passed by the Legislature, it would require two votes of the people in 2012 and 2014.

Thursday, April 7, 8 am, Assembly Taxation Committee in room 3100 of the Nevada Legislature and the Sawyer building in Carson City and the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas.
Support AB 428 to limit the tax deductions mining enjoys to keep shelter it from meaningful taxation. Over a 10-year period, on 111 occasions, one mine or another did not pay a dime of mining taxes on $4.3 billion in gold produced. It’s time to end the loopholes.

For more information, please see www.planevada.org or
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/forget-audits-mining-exploits-nevada-through-tax-loopholes-118321069.html?ref=069

Statewide canvass for Fair Mining Tax initiative coming up

JOIN US for a massive day of action for tax fairness in Nevada!

On Tuesday, April 27th, Nevadans for Fair Mining Taxes will take to the streets so that the people can vote in November to remove the mining industry’s sweetheart tax loopholes! Mining is the only industry in Nevada that is singled out in our constitution for protection from taxation. And it shows in the state’s general fund. It’s time to demand fair solutions to Nevada’s budget crisis!

Over the last few weeks we’ve seen an amazing show of support: Over 200 volunteers are already circulating the petition to their friends, family, and neighbors and as a result we already have over 12,000 signatures! But now it’s time to go the next level. Will you give two hours of your time to help us? We’ll give you everything you need and pair you up with an experienced canvasser.

We’ll be at the following locations for the following times:

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Nevada is drowning. Revised mining taxes are the answer.

This is a complete no-brainer.

Just in from PLAN - Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada:

The mining industry sold $5.7 billion in minerals from Nevada in 2008, 95 percent of it in gold. The industry paid $40 million in net proceeds taxes to the state’s general fund – an effective tax rate of less than 1 percent.  In contrast, the tax on baby formula sold in Clark County is nearly 8 percent.

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PLAN to eliminate limits on mining revenue taxation

This is so long overdue. It’s time to revamp what mining pays to the State of Nevada, and it’s time for us to help PLAN (Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada) get the ballot initiative through.

As PLAN’s state director, Bob Fulkerson says, the mining industry will fight this tooth and nail. Nevadans will be bombarded with multi-million dollar, slick advertising campaigns trying to defeat this. But the truth is that mining has for far too long had a virtually free ride in this state.

We can’t afford to subsidize what mining should be paying for.

Don’t put this on the back of Harry Reid, either. We as Nevadans must make it clear that we need this change.

This isn’t about being vindictive in regard to mining. This is about ‘times are tough all over’, and it’s past time for mining to pay their share.

Read what PLAN has to say:

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