To the editor: If the Division of Justice seeks to override California regulation and rules and invoke the Protection Manufacturing Act to permit offshore oil manufacturing, the state ought to take into account implementing an oil severance tax, which 42 other states use to fund infrastructure and social packages (“Gas prices soaring, Trump administration sets stage to OK controversial offshore oil plan,” March 7).
California is among the few U.S. states with no severance tax and depends as an alternative on property taxes. Imposing an oil severance tax, as different states do, might usher in roughly $1.5 billion annually to California’s coffers.
If California is compelled to allow oil corporations to extract oil, urge the state legislature to behave swiftly to oppose this federal motion with an oil severance tax.
Gene Dorio, Santa Clarita
