Regarding the letter, “Exports will fund our infrastructure”: The author ends by stating his conclusions: “It (Coal Terminal) will help grow our economy, will put people to work, and will make this a better place to live.” After all the discussion on the terminal and the reality of the impact coal has on global warming, why do letters like this persist? Consider the source!
As the author stated, he is a past chair of the Association of Washington Business. This organization is partly responsible for the reduced tax base he would like us to believe is the fault only of the Legislature. Yet AWB lobbies to provide tax incentives to, and reduce the tax on businesses, boasting of success on their website. But that success burdens individual taxpayers, many now without jobs.
It is hypocritical to simply blame the politicians for our lack of tax revenue while AWB’s lobbying efforts helped create the revenue gap. The author then takes a shot at Olympia for “hindering business.” Perhaps a tax on the homeless coupled with a roll back on corporate tax would be more his liking.
Excuse my snarky remark, but this whole letter is disingenuous. The business community only sees an investment opportunity and cares little about jobs or growing the economy. This whole opinion piece is just a rehash of Peabody Coal, BNSF, and SSA Marines propaganda. It assumes much, ignores facts and states untruths.
Money coming into the state will not offset the damage done. Jobs will be minimal, as proven by the coal interest reducing the predicted number of jobs that would be created, when their data was challenged. Science proves the danger of coal and the truth is that coal exports will ruin our state economy and environmental health. But the coal terminal investors, no doubt, will do just fine.
Mike Lapointe
Everett
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