Why are companies allowed to pilfer our public lands for free?

This is an issue I am particularly passionate about.

It is not something you think about every day. But companies are able to pump oil, mine for ore, log our forests, and extract our nation's natural resources -- and they pay practically nothing to do so.

Companies should pay a 10% tax for all revenues generated from the extraction of raw material from public lands.

These are OUR public lands!

They should pay a 25% tax if those resources are exported internationally.