Whats the US Congress’ response to record profits and high gas prices? Why its royalty relief for the oil & gas industry, of course! According to this morning’s New York Times, “the government will give up more than $7 billion in payments between now and 2011. The companies are expected to get the largess, known as royalty relief, even though the administration assumes that oil prices will remain above $50 a barrel throughout that period.”. Yikes. Separation of Oil & State, anyone?