The Wyoming Senate has given initial support to a bill that would help oil, gas and coal companies. That's if the Biden administration raises severance taxes on those industries.
Under Senate File 84 Wyoming would get half of that increase and the bill proposes to give a chunk of its share to energy companies to offset their tax increase.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss warned senators that could cost the state around $150 million. Lander Sen. Cale Case agreed that it’d be hard to walk away from that kind of money.
“We leave a lot of money on the table if we attempt to offset what the federal government is going to do. And this is money in an industry that I would argue is closing,the opportunities are closing,” said Case. “The opportunities in the next 50 years will not be like the opportunities in the next 50 years.”
Ten Sleep Sen. Ed Cooper supported the bill, calling it an investment. It will be heard two more times.
