Pennsylvania was the first State to strike oil. It became wealthy, back in the day.
Now, in 2011, Pennsylvania is dropping people from receiving Health Insurance benefits to help balance its budget. So are other States. See Kevin Sack, "Feeling Budget Pinch, States Cut Insurance" (New York Times Online, Wed., March 2, 2010).
Now, in 2011 -- and for years past -- the Federal Government pays Oil Companies money. The Federal subsidies began in a national effort to minimize the risk of drilling for oil and encourage corporations to enter that part of our national economy. Now that the corporations have not only entered but prospered in oil, the Federal subsidies have not stopped.
Parenthetically, the Federal Government resumed granting permits to Oil Companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since the BP Oil Disaster. The largest ownership interest in the first rig to receive a new permit is held by BP, which owns 46.5%. Ever alert to bad publicity recently, the application was successfully submitted in the name of "Noble Energy, Inc.," which owns 23.25% of the rig located in the same area of the Gulf Coast as Deepwater Horizon used to be located, Mississippi Canyon. These ownership interests were revealed in an April 1, 2009 Press Release by Noble Engergy, "Noble Energy Announces Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Discovery at Santa Cruz".
So do States continue to spend public monies in efforts to encourage the growth of companies located within their borders, and States continue to spend public monies to encourage the relocation of many companies who are thinking of leaving other States. Or spending public monies to perhaps encourage foreign companies to think about leaving other States and relocating regardless of whether the companies have previously given any thought to relocating.
These are choices. One obvious effect of these particular choices is to make it far more difficult or even impossible for those who already have so little in their lives, to go to the doctor or undergo an operation essential to their continued existence, in order to give public money -- some of which comes from the very same disenfranchised uninsured -- to those who do not need any more. Agree or disagree, that is what is happening.
Your and your clients' taxpayer dollars at work. Are these your choices of how to spend the taxes you pay? Are these your priorities?
The author is Co-Chair of the Health, Life and Disability Subcommittee of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association.
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