S O U N D O F F |
September 22, 2008 |
Subject: Amendment 58 and TNC by Roni Bell Sylvester |
The Nature Conservancy gave $1,175 million to stop Colorado Amendment 58; a bill which reads: “Shall state taxes be increased $321.4 million annually by an amendment to (state statutes) concerning the severance tax on oil and gas extracted in the state...(by) eliminated a credit against the severance tax for property taxes paid by oil and gas producers and interest owners.” From what I’ve studied on these organizations, all are non-profits - and some receive grant monies either directly (In 2006 TNC received over $100 million in federal funds.) or via intricate overlapping partnerships with grant recipients. Another TNC action still questioned in Colorado, was their gift of over $15 million to acquisition land in Southern Colorado, for alleged “buffer zones” around the Army’s planned maneuver site expansion. Because the Army suggested they may use eminent domain powers, TNC allegedly withdrew their offer to partner on these land acquisitions, leaving them several million unused. |
The Nature Conservancy gave more than $1 million to stop Colorado Amendment 58. In 2006, TNC received more than $100 million in federal funding. TNC was given more than $15 million federal dollars to acquire land in southern Colorado, for buffer zones around the U.S. Army's planned maneuver site expansion. When the Army mentioned possible usage of eminent domain, TNC allegedly withdrew their offer to partner -- leaving them with unused millions. Should Colorado's Attorney General investigate how TNC processed the government funded part of their banked bucks, possibly peeling some of it off to sue the government; or contribute to political causes? Roni Bell Sylvester, La Salle Election letters Letters must be no more than 100 words. Form letters and letter-writing campaigns will not be accepted. Letters from Weld County residents will be given priority for publication. Deadline: Oct. 27. |