Did you catch our Democrats' targeted responses to Big Oil today?

[bigtree]

in case you missed the wave of fresh air that blew down off of Capitol Hill this afternoon . . .

Senator Chuck Schumer: FTC should probe Big Oil on gasoline prices

Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:38 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil companies may be holding back on gasoline production amid soaring prices in order to bolster their bottom line and should be investigated, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said on Tuesday.

The New York Democrat pointed to a 15 percent rise in pump prices to $2.97 a gallon in New York City over the past month.

"The oil companies are just raising the prices up and up and up. The question is are they doing this based on the laws of supply and demand or is something else at work," Schumer told reporters over the din of city traffic at a press conference in front of a Manhattan gasoline service station.

Schumer said following a wave of mergers by top oil companies in recent years, gasoline prices were easier to manipulate, increasing the need for Congress to make sure the industry is not ripping off consumers.

"Oil companies should be using their maximum refining capacity instead of possibly minimizing it, and the FTC needs to make sure this process is completely transparent so that prices don't continue to shoot up," Schumer said.

full article: http://today.reuters.com/business/newsArticle.aspx?type=ousiv&storyID=2006-04-18T183912Z_01_N18471841_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESSPRO-ENERGY-GASOLINE-PROBE-DC.XML __________________________________________________

Democrats Call For Action to Prevent Gas Price Gouging

4/18/2006 2:34:00 PM

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64161


April 18, 2006

The Honorable George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to enlist your support in enacting strong consumer protection measures that will protect American consumers from price gouging at the gas pump this summer. You are undoubtedly aware of projections from the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) that gas prices will rise 25 cents per gallon across this nation compared to last summer. In light of these projections, we believe a federal anti-price gouging law should be enacted before the summer driving season begins in earnest, this Memorial Day.

Already, price gouging legislation (S. 1735) exists that has been cosponsored by nearly a third of the United States Senate, and endorsed by a number of state Attorneys General. This legislation would give federal and state regulators new authority to prosecute price gouging in the wake of national energy emergencies, as well as put in place measures to ban manipulation and enhance the transparency of our nation's fuel markets. One of the hallmarks of this legislation is that it would also apply to the wholesale fuel markets-an important distinction, given that it is often the large vertically integrated oil companies that dictate the prices that gasoline retailers can charge. While the oil companies rake in record profits, it is often these retailers that bear the brunt of consumer anger.

A strong federal price gouging law is only one element of the equation when it comes to putting our nation on the path toward greater energy independence. A comprehensive and smart approach to this vital issue of national security will help curb the tremendous volatility in energy prices that is impacting consumers, businesses and the American economy as a whole. We have thus far been disappointed by your Administrations' lack of response to our invitation to co-host an emergency bipartisan national energy summit. This offer still stands. However, in the absence of leadership or cooperation from your Administration, we will soon be moving ahead with our own set of real solutions, which will spur the kind of innovation and investment America needs to secure its energy future for the 21st Century.

Our oil dependency is one of the greatest economic and national security challenges faced by our generation. The status quo -- in which the security of the United States and our domestic economy is left to the whims OF foreign regimes and companies that do not have the best interests of our nation at heart --is simply not an option. How quickly and aggressively we rise to meet this challenge will be one of the most important tests on which future generations of Americans will measure our leadership and resolve. As such, we hope you will join with us in acting quickly to protect American consumers from price gouging this summer and to vastly accelerate market penetration of biofuels, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency vehicles and technologies. We stand ready to work with you to develop a serious national strategy to curb America's dangerous dependence on oil.

Sincerely,

Senator Maria Cantwell

Senator Harry Reid

Senator Richard Durbin

Senator John Kerry

Senator Joe Lieberman

Senator Russ Feingold

Senator Evan Bayh

Senator Ron Wyden

Senator Debbie Stabenow

Senator Hillary Clinton

Senator Jack Reed

Senator Barbara Mikulski

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Byron Dorgan

Senator Joe Biden


full release: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64161
_______________________________________________________

Pelosi: 'Record Gas Prices, Record Retirement Packages, and Reco

4/18/2006 2:35:00 PM

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64162

WASHINGTON, April 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on news reports that the price of oil has skyrocketed to more than $70 a barrel:

"As Americans pay almost 90 percent more to fill their gas tanks since President Bush took office, oil companies continue to reap gigantic profits and oil executives receive astronomical compensation. Record prices, record retirement packages, and record profits are just the latest example of the wealthy few benefiting at the expense of hard-working Americans under the Bush Administration.

"The Republican Rubber Stamp Congress has passed two energy bills, costing taxpayers $12 billion for giveaways to big oil companies. But the Republican bills clearly have done nothing to lower gas prices, as the price of a barrel of oil has settled above $70 a barrel - the highest price in our history. Even the Chairman of the Federal Reserve agrees that gas prices are decreasing the purchasing power of American families and depressing the U.S. economy.

"Democrats have a plan to lower gas prices, taking America in a new direction that works for everyone, not just the few. Our plan would empower the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on price gouging to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices, increase production of alternative fuels, and rescind the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks, and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies."
_________________________________________________

Democratic senator wants SEC investigation of ExxonMobil's $400m 'retirement package'

RAW STORY
Tuesday April 18, 2006

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Democratic_senator_wants_SEC_investigation_of_0418.html

Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond's $400 million retirement package is a "shameful display of greed" and said oil companies have "hooked their hose up to the pocketbooks of American citizens and are sucking money from ordinary Americans into the treasury of the giant oil companies," RAW STORY has learned.

In a statement, Dorgan said he wants the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate the deal, and wants ExxonMobil called before Congress "to explain their actions."

“These major oil companies have hooked their hose up to the pocketbooks of American citizens and are sucking money from ordinary Americans into the treasury of the giant oil companies," he said in a statement. "The result is that Exxon reported the highest profit in the history of corporate America last year. Today we read that while farmers struggle to pay the fuel bills and drivers are paying painful prices to fill their gas tanks the oil companies are rolling in cash and their retired executives are getting obscene retirement benefits.”

Dorgan adds that he wants ExxonMobil to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee to explain how a corporation justifies giving a retirement package worth nearly half a billion dollars to one individual. He said the SEC also needs to investigate the arrangement which appears to shortchange ExxonMobil stockholders.
___________________________________________________

[adarling]

1. well this slaps repukes that say the democrats don't present anything

wait until this summer if the repukes don't agree to this because they will have hell to pay. there is no reason that CEO should have gotten what he did for retirement, they could have used most of that to lower prices and put it back in. sick bastards.

[Deja Q]

3. Words are nothing more than... words.

Let's see what happens this summer.

And, yeah, one day somebody will put back into this country what's being taken out.

Just like how Apple said it'd put back into open source what it took out (regarding FreeBSD and other components it leeched in order to 'create' OS X...)

Corporations have no sense of loyalty to one's home country. It's all about money.

Yet the rest of us are expected to. Even if you're living in a box under a bridge. Pay your taxes from your panhandling!

I don't mind being loyal to America - I love this country and its freedoms. And it's amazing how much I have in common with other people, regardless of political identifier. That or I know a lot of moderate republicans... :shrug:

But what I do mind is corporate America acting as if those lines drawn on those maps are meaningless. Especially when all in this world have to live by them and will continue to do so. Indeed, their offshoring to countries that don't particularly care for any of us puts the US in a very bad position indeed. And they have only themselves to blame.

Of course, I could be wrong.

[JohnWxy]

19. They will remain nothing more than words unless people stop acquiesceing

to whatever those in power (wealth) decide to do (to us, and the country.)

IF enough people go to www.congress.org and email their Congressmen and Senators I think things could change (taking one battle at a time. I am not promising huge changes after just one battle).

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=E01

Since 2000 about 80% or more of the contributions from Oil & Gas industry have gone to Repubs.

[NewJeffCT]

2. Funny now that Lieberman is being challenged from the left...

he signs on to this!

[gratuitous]

4. What is that? An organized response? A unified voice?

This will surely discombobulate some of the media talking chuckleheads. They’re ready, though, I’m sure, with their new and improved talking point, that the Democrats are a bunch of lock-step slaves to ideology or some such nonsense, and that whenever a Bushbot exhibits the slightest smidgen of independence, that will be trumpeted as proof that the GOP is really a Big Tent kinda party.

[bigtree]

5. Doyle urges passage of gas pricing bill

The Daily Telegram
Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 03:31:24 PM
http://www.superiorwi.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=1&story_id=218019


MADISON — Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle called on the Republican-controlled Legislature Monday to pass a host of bills in the last days of the session, including one that would make price gouging a crime.
Two bills related to price gouging would keep gas prices in check, he said.

“We need to send a message to the oil companies so they’ll think twice before just running up the prices 40 or 50 cents a gallon overnight for no good reason that any of us can ever discern,” he said at a Capitol news conference.

[bigtree]

6. I work my ass off for days trying to highlight this issue

Sticking it to us at the gas pump because of the Iran 'crisis' (2006-04-14)


Democrats step up to the plate . . .

DU lets this get to four recs and lets it fall . . .

Not good enough?

I really get to thinking when these fall about why I bother to share here.

Are we going to get behind our party? We've got to do that at some point, or run ourselves . . .

[JeffR]

8. Just logged on, bigtree

Here's #5. Damn good post.

:patriot:

[bigtree]

9. whoo hoo!

:toast: :bounce: :kick: :woohoo:

[bigtree]

7. Man. I can really see these folks working hard on these things

with all of the support they are getting for their efforts. Best not to let them know that we're behind them. Wouldn't want to encourage them when they actually step up and challenge the administration and the graft industries.

I'm out of here.

[JeffR]

10. bigtree

Maybe there's just no room for such a thread. It just takes up space that would be better used for another "If the elected Dems don't (insert action here) then I'm finished with the Party" thread...

:banghead:

[bigtree]

11. it can get frustrating

here's to the Democrats! :toast:

[JeffR]

12. I'll drink to that

:toast:

[johnaries]

13. K&R. If we get them before a Congressional Committee again,

do ya think we could actually have them swear in this time?

[bigtree]

14. it would be a crime not to

this is perhaps what a Democratic Congress promises

[bigtree]

15. The 'Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005

cited in the Democrats' letter to Bush:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-1735

[LSK]

16. K & R

[obreaslan]

17. K&R again!

:kick:

[lostinacause]

18. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but most of these suggestions would

do nothing to lower prices. I particularly like this one

" One of the hallmarks of this legislation is that it would also apply to the wholesale fuel markets-an important distinction, given that it is often the large vertically integrated oil companies that dictate the prices that gasoline retailers can charge. While the oil companies rake in record profits, it is often these retailers that bear the brunt of consumer anger."

Any policies that separate the retailing from extraction, refining and distribution would do nothing to elevate market power. If anything it would only lead to double marginalization and the increase in price. Vertical separation, which is what from the context what I believe they are suggesting, only works to decrease the price when there is price regulation on a natural monopoly.

[WinkyDink]

20. They are doing it.....

because they can.

[Dr Fate]

21. "Response" as in text on the internet ?

Or did they say this on TV where everyone will hear it?

[bigtree]

22. Sure, from the Democratic network broadcast headquaters

in your dreams.

These things need elevating by the grass roots and anyone else who gives a damn about what they are saying. I don't understand why anyone in the Democratic party would expect to get a fair hearing in the press.

If you look at a few of the links you'll see usnewswire. That's one distribution center for news releases such as these. It's got a direct link with Yahoo.

For more elevation to these issues I would recommend:

DUERS: THE FIVE-STAR ACTIVISTS' RESOURCE THREAD, UPDATED 7/9/04
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=8816&mesg_id=8816

[Dr Fate]

23. Or on those TV interview and debate shows I always see them on.

Which TV shows are banning top named Democrats like Dean, Kerry, Hillary, Obama or Harry Reid from their shows?

Did this ban just go into effect?- because I could have sworn I saw them all on TV interview shows in the past- and I dont think the host was holding a gun to them saying "mention big oil and you get it!"

Sure, we have less access, but we need to expect more from the DEMs who DO have access.

Text on the internet does little or nothing.

[bigtree]

24. give them a chance

and a hand

[Dr Fate]

25. I'll give them a hand when they go on TV and say it.

If all they are going to do is put text on the internet, then that is the minimal effort.

[bigtree]

26. On their first day back from recess they put forward these proposals

they were an important first step

[Dr Fate]

27. And I can assure you my aunts & uncles have not heard a word about it.

They live in red states, they are self described "swing voters" and they buy gas.

They dont watch CSPAN or read internet news.

[bigtree]

28. drop them a line

fax these releases to their news outlets.

here's a good source: (http://newslink.org/) News gets furthered this way all of the time from friendly local outlets, where most Americans get their news outside of the network bubble.

btw, I saw a few compilation reports on the Democrats' efforts this morning that I thought would be redundant to post.

[Dr Fate]

29. I would prefer Democrats go on TV and make an issue out of it.

That way more than 6 of my relatives hear about it.

Do I have to email all the people in my apartment building too- or could say, Hillary, Kerry, Dean & Obama go on TV and talk about this to millions at once?

I appreciate your efforts to get the word out- I want to see Democrats, ON TV making just as strong of an effort.