Democrats criticize oil industry subsidies

[Judi Lynn]

Democrats criticize oil industry subsidies
Sat Oct 29, 2005 11:52 AM ET

By Julie Vorman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republicans recently pushed through legislation that would give more federal subsidies to the oil industry instead of trying to help U.S. consumers cope with sharply higher energy prices, the top Democrat on the House Commerce Committee said on Saturday.

Rep. John Dingell of Michigan said Congress should focus on Democratic proposals to punish gasoline profiteering, invest in new energy technology, and encourage more energy efficiency.

"We must respond to the needs of the American consumers who are seeing the prospect of $4 a gallon gas and $1,000 monthly heating bills," he said in the Democrats's weekly radio address.

On October 7, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill that would give federal insurance to oil refiners whose expansion projects are delayed by lawsuits or regulatory snags. It also put the Energy Department in charge of permits for new refinery projects as a way to speed up approvals.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-10-29T155211Z_01_SCH869331_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-CONGRESS.xml

[msongs]

1. how many dems voted for this legislation? nt

[cyberpj]

5. Repub leaders held the vote open until they could twist arms for 2 votes.

Remember? Tom DeLay and Hastert were going around and twisting arms and making deals to get the votes. Dems stood on the floor of the house shouting "shame"..."shame"......

Follow the Money:
Regarding today’s passage of the "Gasoline for America's Security Act" by a razor-thin margin, 212-210 after House Republican leaders held open a 5-minute roll call vote for 40 minutes so they could twist arms and eke out enough votes, Reuters reported that “when over two dozen Republicans initially voted no, DeLay, Barton, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and new Majority Leader Roy Blunt circled the chamber and cajoled the holdouts” (Reuters, October 7, 2005).

http://www.firedupamerica.com/energy_bill_fiasco

Another article:

snip...
CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports there was chaos on the Hour floor as Republican leaders passed the bill by holding a five-minute vote open for almost 50 minutes until they could convince two Republicans to change their votes.

They buttonholed lawmakers for last-minute lobbying as Democrats complained loudly that the vote should be closed. Finally two GOP lawmakers switched from "no" to "yes," giving the bill's supporters the margin of victory.

"Is this the House of a Banana Republic?" Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., shouted at one point, expressing his frustration about the GOP holdup of the final tally.

No Democrats voted for the legislation.

more...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/07/politics/main926916.shtml

[wordpix2]

6. clear that our "next president" Hastert is one of the tainted

next prez after we get rid of BushCheney, that is. Hastert is next in line.

[cyberpj]

8. I can't conceive of Hastert being a prez candidate -

I know it's appropriate - a huge bloated old white man representing America would be true in the world's eyes -- but I hope he's not truly in the running.

That said, welcome to DU wordpix2! :hi:

[wordpix2]

16. hi back and he's in the running because

he's third in line behind prez, vice-prez. If they go, we get Hastert as prez. And he's been bought and sold, too.

[ashling]

18. Lets clear up this

'Hastert as prez.' thing. Yes, the Speaker of the House is third in line to become president. But that would only take effect if the President and Vice President were to vacate their offices simultaneously.

If Bush were to leave the office either through resignation, impeachment, or other reasons, then the Vice president would become president. If that were to happen, assuming that he didn't have a heart attack first, someone new would be named and voted on by the House of Representatives to become the new VP.

Chances of it getting down to the Speaker are not real great ... but then if it were Speaker Pelosi ....

[ninkasi]

2. This is something that needs more publicity

Instead of cutting medicaid, and school lunches, and helping the poor pay for heating this winter, Republicans choose to give lavish welfare payments to already bloated with profits energy companies. Something is very, very wrong with a country who treats it's citizens this way.

If a single mom is expected to raise children working at jobs which often pay only minimum wage, why can't giant corporations also take responsibility for themselves? How sick is this, that we grind the helpless into the dirt, and reward those who already have by giving them more?

I'm glad Rep. Dingell is speaking out, and I hope that other Democratic politicians join him. One thing that Americans can agree on is that this winter is going to be a very, very frightening one for people of limited means who face the prospect of choosing between eating and staying warm.

[Orrin_73]

3. Oil companies making huge profits look at this link

Stop Oil Company Price Gouging

[wordpix2]

4. fed insurance to oil refiners reaping huge profits while

there's no fed insurance for health care in Amerika and even middle class can't afford health insurance through their employers.

Motherfucker Repuke majority in Congress! Let's vote them out in '06, what say?

" the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill that would give federal insurance to oil refiners whose expansion projects are delayed by lawsuits or regulatory snags. It also put the Energy Department in charge of permits for new refinery projects as a way to speed up approvals."

[WhiteTara]

7. now why didn't Collins tie the home heating oil bill

on to this one. THat would have made some since.

[sarcasmo]

9. The obvious difference between the Reich wing and the Dem's.

The Reich wing doesn't care about your heating bill or your bill at the gas pump. The Reich wing only cares about big Corporate profits.
Should be the 08 message for the Dem's.

[gizmo1979]

12. fat hassert says we don't

punish success,in regarg to huge profits.Maybe we shouldn't punish the guy that got caught with a splitter on his natural gas line.Been stealing natural gas for 20 years.I thing we should give him a fucking award.

[wordpix2]

13. how about that Reich message for '06? Very clever, sarcasmo

[sarcasmo]

19. Welcome to D/U wordpix2.

edit for early morning spelling.

[howmad1]

10. Just remember kids......

.....The dems ARE speaking out. Unfortunately, when the rethuglicans own the house, the senate, the executive branch, the supreme court, MSM, etc, it's kinda tough to hear them. Keep the faith. 2006 will be a landslide victory for the Democratic party. :bounce:

[wordpix2]

14. that's what I like, optimism...It's only we the people who

will put the Repukes where they belong---out of government and in jail for those guilty of crimes. Let's get organized.

[tabasco]

11. Robber barons running the Nation.

With 40% support. Unbelievable. A Nation of fucking morons.

[wordpix2]

15. don't get mad, get even with the criminals!

[sarcasmo]

20. Thanks to black box voting it's easy for that 40% to steal an election.

When our votes flip to count as theirs when you touch the screen.

[wordpix2]

17. FRIST wants answers from Big Oil re: profits. LMAO, another robber baron

ha, ha, Frist had a conversion, now seeing the light---before he's indicted next. LMAO

"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist ordered a November 8 hearing for top executives of major oil companies to explain why prices are so high. Frist also said he might endorse a bill banning oil price profiteering -- an approach favored by Democrats -- if evidence of wrongdoing was found."