Vitter disses Louisiana's solar tax credits, not a word about the state's tax breaks for oil and gas

[LiberalArkie]

Sen. David Vitter, who has during his political career collected more than $1 million dollars from the oil and gas industry, doesn’t like the tax credit the state gives to people who want to install solar panels at their residences. Over the past six years, the state has provided $147 million in solar tax credits. It’s the most generous such benefit of all the states, covering 50 percent of the first $25,000 cost of a solar installation.

On SportsChat in Acadiana late last week, Scott Keyes reports, Vitter blasted the credits, labeling them an example of government excess that he says he wants to do away with:

“We have some tax credits that are really giveaways and spending items by another name. For instance, the solar tax credit. That’s a check from the taxpayers for folks to buy solar panels,” Vitter said. “It’s really a spending program and it’s a big check. I don’t think the state taxpayer should be in the business of buying folks solar panels, mostly folks who are perfectly well off.”

There’s no doubt that more affluent Americans have adopted solar than low-income Americans. That’s an important matter. Community solar shows promise in helping to spread the benefits of solar to those who can’t now afford it, or whose dwellings have limitations making rooftop systems problematic. But wiping out solar tax credits entirely instead of finding way for less affluent Americans to make use of them makes no sense. Unless, of course, you’re one of those politicians who says, as Vitter does, "I do not think the science clearly supports global warming theory." That’s code for, “I don’t think climate science meshes well with the bottom line of my campaign contributors.”


Read More: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/11/9/1447688/-Vitter-disses-Louisiana-s-solar-tax-credits-not-a-word-about-the-state-s-tax-breaks-for-oil-and-gas

[yeoman6987]

1. He only has a week and a half left to say dumb things

Better get em all in Vitter.

[LiberalArkie]

2. I hope so, but as in Kentucky the R's control the vote tabulation.