“I did not feel the support from the Governor’s office.” Bob Cooper
Coal miners and leaders of Oklahoma’s coal mining industry make it clear—-they are not happy with Gov. Mary Fallin and her action this week signing Senate Bill 1614 into effect. The new law cuts the coal mining industry’s $3.8 million annual tax credit by 25 percent or about $800,000.
“It was disheartening. I’ve been doing this for 40 years,” commented Bob Cooper, vice president of Farrel-Cooper Mining Company headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas with operations in Oklahoma. “This was the first time in history, Bob cooper could say ‘I did not feel support from the Governor’s office’.”
While the tax credit cut was aimed at helping the legislature and state leaders resolve the $1.1 billion budget hole, it also comes at a time when the coal industry is under fire from the Obama administration.
“This is the first time I confess, I didn’t feel the sense of, I didn’t feel the love in the business community, you know!” added Cooper. “To be politically correct, we had to give up something, but not everybody gave up things. I’m not gonna mention other industries that cost the state $150 million a year.”
As for what it might mean for the state’s three main coal mining companies, Cooper isn’t sure.
“I don’t know exactly. I know they’re not leaving. We’re just kind of working together to see what we can do to offset this loss,” he told OK Energy Today. “I think we’re gonna hold. We’re not gonna lose any companies in 2016. But what’s gonna happen in 2017 or 2018….this is what bothers me.”
Listen to some of Cooper’s comments.