GOP congressman Rob Bishop of Utah
blasts Democratic efforts to repeal tax subsidies for big oil companies:
“Quit trying to demonize success and create straw men to shift the burden away from the fact that de facto moratoriums, lack of action, foot-dragging, red tape, galatial speed by this administration is what is causing our problems,” Bishop said.
Of course, oil prices fell by 9% on Thursday, and last I checked, the Obama administration hadn't changed a single one of the policies caricatured by Bishop, so his analysis isn't exactly convincing.
More to the point, nobody is arguing that the way to reduce gas prices is to stop giving big oil huge subsidies. What we're saying is that the subsidies are a waste of money to the taxpayer. These companies don't need incentives. Last quarter, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell earned about $25 billion. They don't need subsidies!
And saying they don't need them isn't demonizing them. It's common sense. And yet on Thrusday, every single Republican once again voted against doing so. I'm sure it has nothing to do with them getting 75% of all the campaign cash from big oil. Right?