Representative John Fleming, M.D. addressed officials from the Interior Department today at the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing on the President’s FY2011 budget. Fleming stressed the important role that domestic energy development plays in creating jobs for Americans. “Our nation is at nearly 10 percent unemployment, and we need jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Fleming while highlighting the crucial role the Haynesville Shale has played in Louisiana’s economy. “My district in Louisiana knows firsthand the benefits of energy development. In 2008 alone, investment in the Haynesville Shale resulted in the creation of over 32,000 new jobs in Louisiana, and State and local tax revenues skyrocketed by more than $153 million.”

Fleming also expressed his disappointment that the President’s budget levies new taxes on small businesses and as a result projects a decline in domestic energy production. “This budget includes a plethora of production diminishing measures to increase taxes, new fees and royalty rate increases that will disproportionately impact the small business that produce. And if I’m not mistaken, the budget estimates a decline in revenues from new offshore leasing from 1.5 billion in 2009 to $413 million in 2015. I’ll be frank. I’m disappointed.”

The video of the opening statement can be viewed here: