It's very nice that Delta Airlines and ConocoPhillips have come up with a deal to keep that refinery operating. It's good for the workers and local economy.
But the parade of politicians - from the governor on down - running to the announcement to take some sort of credit for the deal is as silly as it is routine.
Two businesses saw a mutual benefit in making this deal. Delta needs jet fuel to run its fleet. And ConocoPhillips wanted out of the northeast refinery biz. Delta got the plant for a song and hopes that the state DEP and federal EPA will be reasonable in their future requirements and regulations.
We'll see. In the meantime, all this yakking and knee-bent running about by public officials is nothing more than your typical political grandstanding by politicians. It isn't pretty. But then it never has been.
But what about the 30 million of tax payers dollars needed to close this deal?!?!?!? 150 million is cheap for that acreage of waterfront property! But the deal was 180 million with PA taxpayers kicking in 30 million. Wonder how the folks in Erie feel about that?
ReplyDeleteThe parade of politicians basking in the glow of the transaction only costing PA taxpayers $30 million was clearly not pretty. In fact it was an embarrassment. However, it pales in comparison to the extensive basking in the glow of President Obama on the anniversary of the Bin Laden's killing. The campaign commercial was bad. The NBC interview in the Situation Room was worse. But his landing in Afghanistan on the anniversary is clear proof that he will stop at nothing to get reelected.
ReplyDelete$30 million in state tax dollars to "save" 400 jobs. Actually, it's just a taxpayer donation to Delta's bottom line. It's ridiculous, just like the bipartisan politicos lining up to funnel millions more in public dollars to the failing Aker shipyard in Philly to build a ship on spec.
ReplyDeleteIf I had another son, he would probably look like one of those men who work in the rain, snow,heat,and well you get my drift. Oh I forgot, pays taxes on his check, then pays taxes again an anything he buys. Trickle up economics (ring a bell?)
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