‘Green’ lobby pushes to extend lucrative tax breaks

[Geee]

Watchdog.org:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the lame-duck Congress limps to the finish line, billions of dollars in dubious federal energy subsidies remain in limbo.

 

The perennial procrastination has solar- and wind-power lobbyists scrambling for renewal of their industries’ expiring tax credits.

 

If past is prologue, lawmakers will keep the money flowing via “tax extenders,” says Matt Mitchell, a policy analyst at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center.

 

Mitchell says the legislative stall is by design.

 

“It’s not an accident,” he told Watchdog in an interview. “Granting temporary privileges or punishment allows Congress to fund-raise on them over and over again.”

 

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chided his congressional colleagues last week for delaying action, declaring, “This is no way to do business.“