Bruce Ely Quoted in BBJ Regarding High Court’s Ruling on Railroad Fuel Tax

Bruce Ely was quoted in a Birmingham Business Journal article entitled “Alabama scores Supreme Court win in tax fight with CSX,” exploring the ramifications of a recent Supreme Court ruling, which held that Alabama’s sales tax on diesel fuel used by rail carriers—not imposed on motor and water carriers—is discriminatory, remanding the case back to the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“My real concern is whether the state can prove up its defense with respect to water carriers, who don't pay either the tax the railroads pay or the tax the trucking companies pay,” said Ely. “If the 11th Circuit reads the [Supreme Court] majority's signals correctly, that may be the only real issue remaining.”

Read the complete BBJ article, “Alabama scores Supreme Court win in tax fight with CSX.”