Maybe someone can enlighten me, but who own the oil that may be under the Gulf of Mexico for example. Is it the federal govt? The states? The people?

Is there something that would stop my State of Florida, from recovering the oil, refining it and selling it to Floridians?

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

How does the saying go again? Oh right, finders keepers

So does that mean your okay with Alaska keeping its oil for it self?

__________________
I don't pretend to know everything, educate me, and I'll try to educate you. Shouting matches and insults aren't going to convince me.

The problem with those arguments is that eventually Florida, and Alaska more so, will have more oil than its citizens can consume, and will then sell off to other states. That's where the Commerce clause of the Constitution kicks in, and why the fed would claim control of all oil resources in the country.

From 2006:

Louisiana oil royalty relief gains House nod | New Orleans CityBusiness | Find Articles at BNET

Unfortunately, this bill passed the House but was never voted on by the Senate.

__________________
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chardonnay in one hand, chocolate in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming 'WOO HOO, what a ride!'"

I'm gonna' guess here, but "territorial waters" are with respect to federal, not state, boundries. As such, I think the Fed would control it...

Looks like he was just trying to find out who would control it. I saw nothing that suggested that he thought it was okay if the State did...

Fair enough.

__________________
I don't pretend to know everything, educate me, and I'll try to educate you. Shouting matches and insults aren't going to convince me.

How much is the state budget? Is that enough to make any significant contribution, or is it under 5%?

Im for accepting that the states control their land and the resources found on them, including out into terratorial waters. I dont beleive the federal govt should own any land outside of DC and possible military bases. As such, if Alaska decided to keep its oil for itself, have at it. As it is, they already take royalties from oil sales and subsidize their own citizens oil pruchases.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

I dont agree. The commerce clause only states that they can regulate commerce, not own everything traded.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

Well, thats what I want to know. Since when does the US govt have the right to lease oil exploration to anyone. That should be a state right.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

An individual state doesn't determine territorial waters, the federal government does. You might not agree with that (I happen to), but that doesn't mean it's invalid...

As I mentioned, the federal government is the body responsible for determining territorial waters, not the states...

Would you be equally accepting of the federal government then spending your tax dollars only within the limits of Washington DC and on military bases? After all, if they're not going to have any say as to how things are developed within a particular state, why should they bother giving them any money?

GoM ? USA

FLA, in its costal waters ? nothing other than $$$$ to do it. that why they sell the mineral rights. they get the cash without the bother.

Alaska was on national (right next door to ANWR) but even with that, the state gets loads of money, some of which is paid out to the residents !