Minnick: Sali’s vote hurts Idaho businesses, drivers

News Release

By Walt Minnick Campaign - April 01, 2008

April 1, 2008
For immediate release

In 2006, Bob Coleman’s company received a $100,000 grant to help his company
build a large blending and distribution facility at his existing company site near Lewiston.

Coleman Oil matched the grant with about $60,000 of their own money. The project was widely seen as a great success story of both federal/state cooperation and economic stimulus based on new energy solutions.

“As Coleman Oil shows, the proper amount of incentive and investment can make these programs cost-effective very quickly and can reduce our dependency on foreign oil,” said businessman and Congressional candidate Walt Minnick. “We’re giving billions in tax breaks to big oil companies when we should be investing heavily in alternatives like biofuels which will help us in our quest to be energy independent.”

Minnick was joined by former Idaho governor Cecil Andrus today as the two toured the Coleman Oil facility in Lewiston. Coleman Oil and other biodiesel distributors use a federal tax credit of $1 per gallon on biodiesel, which is offered by the federal government to help stimulate this new and growing industry.

Earlier this year the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 5351, which would have extended that tax credit. From a summary of the bill:

This bill would repeal roughly $18 billion in manufacturing tax credits for oil and gas companies while extending and increasing tax credits for a wide range of renewable energy programs.

The bill is now before the Senate. It passed the house on February 27, 2008. Rep. Bill Sali voted against the bill, even though it received support from 17 Republicans.

Minnick today said Sali’s “obstructionist path” is hurting Idaho.

“Bill Sali voted against this tax credit because he claims it would raise gas prices. To the contrary, the credit lowered prices for an alternative source of energy consumers crave,” Minnick said. “Plus it stimulated the local economy by helping a local business.”