Common Cause Blog :: Oil companies 783, American public 0

Oil companies 783, American public 0

By Josh Zaharoff
Posted on Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 09:09:28 PM EST

So is the average American taxpayer going to win one of these battles with Big Oil? Without publicly financed elections, I wouldn't bet on it any time soon.

Big Oil blocked yet another common sense measure--investment in renewable energy--on the Senate floor yesterday.

In a victory for the oil industry, Republican lawmakers successfully blocked a crucial component of the Democratic plan that would have raised taxes on oil companies by about $32 billion and used the money on tax breaks for wind power, solar power, ethanol and other renewable fuels.

Yes, that'd be investing in a future of renewable energy by taxing these folks:

Exxon Mobil sets annual profit record

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Exxon Mobil Corp. posted the largest annual profit in U.S. history Thursday....

For the year, Exxon Mobil earned $39.5 billion, up from its previous record $36.1 billion in 2005.

So the Senate couldn't pass a bill to tax oil companies, whose heavy hitters routinely set all-time profit records while receiving billions in government subsidies, in order to invest in chronically underfunded clean, renewable energy programs? Apparently that's Big Oil's prize in return for $200 million in campaign contributions.

"Clean elections" laws, such as the Fair Elections Now Act, are not simply about campaign reform and open government. They're about policies, like fossil fuels vs. renewable energy, that pit special interests against the general public, and result in too many quotes like

The combination of breakthroughs and setbacks highlighted the blocking power of the entrenched industry groups, from oil companies and electric utilities to car manufacturers, that had blanketed Congress in recent days to defend their interests.

The clashes and impasses also provided a harbinger of potentially bigger obstacles when Democrats try to pass legislation this fall to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases tied to global warming.

Global warming, huh? That's a problem we can all agree we need to work on, so that should be an easy bill to pass. No special interests will oppose that, right?

Tags: big oil, money in politics, fair elections now act, senate, public financing, clean elections (all tags)

Oil companies 783, American public 0 :: 16 Comments

Rise and Overcome

We, as American citizens that support energy conservation and the preservation of our beautiful planet, should not tolerate the government shooting down and types of compromises for money going toward solar power or innovation for energy conservation. The tax money we are wasting toward oil needs to be placed into increasing the productivity of our actual saving oil.

Solomon 'Dah Gi-Gi' Wang

by cleansolomon on Sun Jun 24, 2007 at 09:28:28 PM EST

fakers in the government

This country is filled with hypocritical politicians who keep repeating that we need to preserve our resources and strive to find alternatives to oil, but instead are cutting funds for research on solar power and other renewable resources. The people in the government are not only backing up on their word to protect the world, but are actually doing the opposite of what they promised. They are making it easier for oil companies to pollute the Earth by not passing a bill to tax them, and we shouldn't have to stand for injustice like this...

Lena Derisavifard

by ld6637 on Sun Jun 24, 2007 at 10:14:51 PM EST

Renewable Energy is the Key

In an attempt to preserve our planet, we need renewable energy like wind power and solar power to reach that goal. We should not support nor encourage the government's denial of these renewable fuels in order to save oil companies from taxation. Money being spent on oil needs to be kept aside for things that will preserve Earth.Conservation and preservation play an important role in the attempt to save our planet.

by laurenxx08 on Sun Jun 24, 2007 at 10:23:52 PM EST

Who's side are they on?

Too many politicians use the false pretense of trying to "save the planet" and preserve our resources. Not passing crucial bills such as the tax on oil companies is clearly not a step in the right direction. We as American citizens can not continue to sit back and wait for the government to provide oil relief because recent events show that's not one of their priorities.

by Jasmine Johnson on Sun Jun 24, 2007 at 10:47:24 PM EST

Government want $$$$

I think the government is delibrately stalling funds on trying to find alternative resources for the common consumer. American citizens just believe that it will always be enough oil for everyone, but in reality there will sooner or later be an end. Many oil companies would be scaried in investing in alternative resources because then they could go out of business. To me, it all comes down to money.

by pspsong08 on Sun Jun 24, 2007 at 11:55:02 PM EST

it does come down to money

I agree, it comes down to money. I don't think the public buys the line "there will always be more oil" any more, but until we limit the power of oil companies in our political process, the public's will is less likely to prevail.

by Josh Zaharoff on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 10:36:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Changes CAN be made!

Clearly the government is ignoring the people when it comes to this issue. If they were to buy into the public opinion and do what is right for the people and actually care about the planet earth then the officials run the extremely high risk of losing such sizable donations from the high roller oil industries. However, sooner or later we'll all die thanks to their selfishness. What if together we the people work harder and show our full united support against the oil companies and the government? Sounds like some idiot trying to start a riot, but every leader starts somewhere right? Perhaps maybe instead of the government and the oil companies losing money to an environmentalist proposal, what if the oil companies and car manufacturers became the ones to actually make a change. Maybe the oil companies and car manufacturers could revert into green companies and produce alternatives themselves. What if we persuaded the government to host a contest as to which companies could create the most efficient alternative resource vehicle at the lowest price to the consumer. Then maybe say every two years host another contest to beat the previous winner. They ALL have the money to do it, so why not? At least then they would have environmentalist's support which in turn could make the MORE money. Then the companies and the government could just float in their piles of gold WITH the knowledge that they actually made a difference and we wouldn't have this problem anymore. Plus the technology for alternative resources would constantly improve as well. I believe that may be the only peaceful way to solve this problem.

Jonathan Yoon

by Jonathan Yoon on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 12:49:00 AM EST

Comes back to money

Unfortunately, I don't think that car and oil companies will voluntarily compete just to win a contest--but they might if it could improve their bottom line. We're beginning to see a tiny bit of this with the automakers, as American demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles increases. Unfortunately, there's no incentive for the oil companies to promote cars that go farther on a single gallon of gas. And while a literal "contest" is a nice idea, it's hard to imagine those companies working towards something that might cost them billions in revenue.

Rather, the demand has to come from the public and our representatives, as you've said. I think a key piece of this puzzle is by passing public financing, so that lawmakers can act on the people's will without regard to the well-funded lobbyists on the special interests' side. Then, if we say, "We need alternative sources of energy, and we'll subsidize that effort," that will more easily pass Congress and push oil companies and others to adapt. And in the end we can find ourselves in a cleaner, more sustainable, and more secure energy future.

by Josh Zaharoff on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 10:45:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

alternate fuel sources? i dont think so...

The deal with the government not taxing the large oil companies is absurd. They talk about bills, and laws of saving the environment that we live in, but yet without taxation on the large oil tycoons, and saying that they should find alternatives, they themselves are very ironic. Instead of guaranteeing a plan for new better fuel sources, the opposite is true, they actually are promoting more pollution. Green house emissions will sky rocket and there goes their plans for a greener cleaner earth. All the oil companies care about is profit, which means more $$$, and the government is just going along. So basically all it comes along to is more money and less care for our environment.

Enoch chan

by Enoch Chan on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 12:49:19 AM EST

think about Planet Earth Discovery Channel and BBC

think about the documentary shot in HD format about our earth. the documentary Planet Earth really makes you think that when the government does not do anything about the current situation w/taxation on the large oil companies our earth, that is easily displayed in that documentary, about the earths sheer beauty will be lost forever, replaced by smog, and filth. Do you really want to live in a nasty gigantic garbage pail? the government only wants profit, and our environment in the long run will suffer, and then in turn we will as well.

Enoch chan

by Enoch Chan on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 12:58:34 AM EST

So lets just STOP paying taxes

Obviously the government won't help us get the funds to improve our situation. So I say we put our resources together to MAKE them comply. I mean, all we do is complain about the government and the problems blah blah blah, but lets think... Why is the situation the way it is? Because we the people made it that way. And we the people can change it! We have to stand up and do something. The United States was and still is a country for the people. And if this small group of concerned citizens can make the masses realize the truth (I know that will be an enormous task, however , it can be done) then together we can force the government and the large industries to make changes. They can do it, they have the power and resources, we just have to show them how.

by Jonathan Yoon on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 01:07:16 AM EST

Energy Conservation

I think that everyone can agree on the global warming issue! It needs to be taken care of and if it is not, there will be even more problems. This tax money needs to be used on the awareness of conserving the earth.

by Lovelyaish on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 01:09:45 AM EST

Energy Conservation

I think that the government needs to focus more on solar energy. They spend all of their time talking about global warming and recycling. However, they don't do anything to back their opinions up. The tax goes to other things. If some of the tax money went to finding a good way for solar power, we have a cleaner earth.

by AubreyC on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 03:28:40 AM EST

Okay so....

Our government decides to pay oil companies for oil that is diminishing and also escalating the problem of global warming. Not only that but with our money and there paying more money for a less amount of fuel compared to previous years. And instead of finding alternative ways such as solar power and wind power the government isn't listening to the people and instead continuing down their own path and most likely won't deal with the current situation until the price of gas is $5 a gallon. And America needs to wake up and realize that the 5% of the people who are supporting and aiding in the process of alternative means can't continue without sufficient funds.

by juniorgov on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 07:55:21 PM EST

Yes

I think you've more or less summed it up. And the reason the government isn't listening to the people is in large part due to the campaign contributions and lobbying might that the oil companies pump into the political process each year. We need to cut off that link--between the special interests and our representatives--and fix, as Dick Durbin calls it, "a system that, if it isn't corrupt, is corrupting."

by Josh Zaharoff on Mon Jun 25, 2007 at 10:37:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Money is main focus

I completely agree with pspsong08. Government is trying to hide new resources and are out to scam people for their money. I also believe that one day we will run out of oil, but that day will come sooner if we do not find more reliable alternate fuel sources.

by JuanMaldonado08 on Wed Jun 27, 2007 at 09:40:22 AM EST

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Oil companies 783, American public 0

By Josh ZaharoffPosted on Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 09:09:28 PM EST

By Josh Zaharoff
Posted on Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 09:09:28 PM EST