The American Petroleum Institute has withdrawn its offer of sponsorship for a planned Smithsonian Institution exhibit on oceans at the Natural History Museum. Kudos to James Grimaldi and the Washington Post for exposing this story, and giving it the prominence necessary to persuade the Smithsonian’s board, and embarrass its corporate sponsors.
Separate Oil and State
No War No Warming!
As part of the “No War No Warming” demonstration 68 protesters were arrested yesterday in Washington, after they blocked Capitol Hill employees from arriving to work. “The link between war and warming is oil” said Steve Kretzmann of Oil Change International. “The oil industry gave $10 million in campaign contributions to this Congress. Perhaps this … Read More
Oily influences on US energy legislation
A study done by the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows a strong correlation between Big Oil political contributions and votes on energy legislation which eliminates $16 billion in oil company tax breaks and royalty relief. The 221 House members who voted for the House energy bill received around $5.8 million in total from the … Read More
US House “Discourages” International Oil Subsidies, But Falls Short of Ending Oil Aid
The US House of Representatives missed an important opportunity to end oil aid in a bill [Acrobat pdf] that will “re-authorize” the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) – one of two agencies in the US government that uses taxpayer dollars to provide financing, insurance and guarantees to US businesses wanting to expand their operations in … Read More
Senate Passes Energy Bill
The US Senate passed a broad energy bill late yesterday that will require the first big increase in fuel mileage requirements for passenger cars in American in more than two decades. The vote, 65 to 27, was a major defeat for car manufacturers, which had fought for a much smaller increase in fuel economy standards … Read More
Public support builds for End Oil Aid Act
Today, over 30 U.S. environmental, development and faith-based organizations sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives (Acrobat .pdf) calling on Members to support the End Oil Aid Act. “The U.S. can play a critical role in fighting our addiction to oil, alleviating global poverty and combating climate change as we move toward a … Read More
Democratic Senators Propose Oil Windfall Tax
A group of eight “freshman” Democratic senators have introduced legislation that would impose a windfall profits tax on oil companies as well as revoking some government subsidies. The legislation, proposed by Senator Robert Casey, D-Pa., would impose a 50 percent tax on profits after oil prices rise above $50 a barrel. It also repeals tax … Read More
Dem Leaders Endorse Iraqi “Oil Theft” Law
Among the many problems with the Democrats War Supplemental is the not so small fact that it endorses passage of the Iraqi Oil Law. “Democratic leadership is actively handing over Iraq’s oil to U.S. companies as some sort of war bounty,” said Antonia Juhasz, analyst with Oil Change International. Not so fast, say Dem Leaders … Read More
Cheney’s Smirk
“You going to watch the State of the Union?” I asked a friend Tuesday. “I’m going to listen on the radio. I want to hear it, but I don’t want to have to look at him.” Understandable, but by only listening, my friend missed the key to the speech. Viewers might have missed it, too … Read More
Despite the Democrats, Big Oil Subsidies Continue
Well the public perception is that it is all change at Congress. With the Democrats in power, one of their promises is to get rid of nasty subsidies to the oil industry. Well apparently not. Great article by Laura MacCleery, who is the director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, on TomPaine. According to MacCleery: … Read More