From The Hill:
EXCERPT: “The Senate on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have ended $21 billion worth of tax breaks for large oil companies, but Democrats vowed to revive the measure as part of high-stakes negotiations on the budget and debt ceiling.
Democrats’ pledge to continue pushing the bill signals that they view the effort as a winning political issue amid $4-a-gallon gas, soaring oil company profits and growing concern about the deficit.
A procedural motion necessary for the bill to move forward failed in a 52-48 vote. The motion required 60 votes for passage.
Two Republicans — Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — voted for the motion, while three Democrats — Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Mark Begich (Alaska) — broke ranks and voted against the motion.
The legislation would eliminate a slew of tax breaks for the five largest oil companies: Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips and Chevron.
Read more here: Vote to hike taxes on oil fails in Senate, 52-48; Dems vow to revive it
5 OIL COMPANIES, 3 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS:
5 Major OIL companies received record breaking profits, and the vote to end oil subsidies and begin taxing these companies FAILED to pass!
From 3 Chics commenter Gene Robke:
“Please spread the word in the media about the vote to end subsidies for big oil. The American public will not like the results.
Please tell how the 48 that voted against ending the subsidies received $21 million in career donations for big oil, and those 52 who voted for ending subsidies received $5.4 million.”
Your thoughts, 3 Chics peeps?
Voters,
Show Mary Landrieu (La.) the door!
Louisiana of all states, hit by Katrina with it’s citizens still reeling and recovering from the disaster, and their senator Mary Landrieu collects millions for her own person gain and wealth from oil.
Why are the citizens not protesting, why are they continuing to vote this filthy rich, selfish, career politician into office? $$$$$$$
“In a time of $4-a-gallon gasoline, stratospheric rises in petro profits and a federal budget deficit severe enough that Republicans have called for killing Medicare, the spark that exploded the public’s fury at oil giants was the revelation that the big five are on the government dole, drawing more than $2 billion a year in corporate welfare payments.”
“‘Exxon’s top exec flailed at the bill, absurdly labeling it ‘discriminatory.’ Next up was Shell’s man, who feigned almost-comic outrage at the notion that our nation’s budget deficit should be reduced ‘by taking more from the few,’ as though he was unaware that ‘the few’ in question are notorious tax dodgers, paying little or nothing on their enormous profits. Wildest of all though was Conoco’s chief, Jim Mulva, who inflamed senators and insulted the public by calling the bill ‘un-American.'”
“No, Mr. Mulva, what’s un-American is that you five clueless CEOs expect to haul in $100 billion in profits this year, yet you’re whining that you should be given $2 billion in special tax breaks, even as little kids are being cut off from Head Start and the GOP threatens to take Medicare away from grandma. Start thinking about someone besides your sorry selves.”
“‘As one politician bluntly said of Washington’s annual tax giveaway to massively profitable oil corporations: ‘We don’t need incentives to the oil and gas companies to explore. There are plenty of incentives.’ That was no lefty basher of Big Oil talking, it was George W. Bush.'”
http://www.alternet.org/economy/150987/what_are_the_big_oil_companies_thinking_when_they_fight_having_to_pay_taxes
PAY ATTENTION TO HOW THESE FOLKS THINK: “”‘Exxon’s top exec flailed at the bill, absurdly labeling it ‘discriminatory.’ Next up was Shell’s man, who feigned almost-comic outrage at the notion that our nation’s budget deficit should be reduced ‘by taking more from the few,’ as though he was unaware that ‘the few’ in question are notorious tax dodgers, paying little or nothing on their enormous profits. Wildest of all though was Conoco’s chief, Jim Mulva, who inflamed senators and insulted the public by calling the bill ‘un-American.'”