Sen. Clinton targets "Big Oil"

US senator Clinton targets 'Big Oil' 6 minutes ago


WASHINGTON, May 9, 2007 (AFP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton Wednesday demanded a probe into recent maintenance closures of several US refineries, and questioned whether oil firms were guilty of price gouging.

As anger mounts in the US Congress over hikes in gasoline prices ahead of the key US summer holiday season, the New York senator argued oil firms should not pass the cost of temporary shortages onto motorists.

"Consumers simply cannot continue to absorb the crippling cost of these rising gas prices," Clinton said.

"I am very concerned that oil companies are not being held responsible for their own infrastructure and are being allowed to pass shortages onto customers at the pump."


more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070509/ts_alt_afp/uscongressoilclintonauto_070509222257

this:

The Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act

:-)

Thank you! Chevron made $4.14B in profit in the 4th quarter of 2005 (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8FD44QG0&show_article=1). Are you telling me that it cost $4.14B for these repairs!?!?

I wish she'd tell some of the brainless on some of the recent post I've read about the reality then maybe they'd stop arguing and defending the oil companies as they rob us daily.

What a Bold Move. The market has been warning of these "maintenance" shutdowns since March. Guess she was fooled again ....

Not only has she made these recent statements on Big Oil, her energy plan calls for a windfall profits tax to fund research and development into alternative fuel sources...

She has opposed CAFTA, and favors a major reworking of NAFTA...

She opposed the Bush tax cuts, and advocates rolling them back...

She opposes any privatization of Social Security...

She has proposed an expansion of the SCHIP program to cover all uninsured children in the U.S.

She heartily supported the minimum wage hike...and tying them to congressional pay raises to insure those on a minimum wage salary get a hike when Congress raises their own pay

Been out front on getting bills passed to fund microloan programs...

Inserted language in an energy bill to provide tax incentives for environmentally responsible construction projects

Opposed the 2005 Bankruptcy bill

Voted to allow importation of prescription drugs from other countries...

Out front on getting broadband access to rural areas...

No matter what you think of her IWR vote, she has been out front on holding defense contractors accountable for malfeasance in Iraqi rebuilding contracts...

She consistently gets very high ratings from union and consumer advocacy groups...

And gets consistently low ratings from pro-business groups...CoC, Taxpayers league etc...

As much as I don't like her myself, she's making a real statement here. Detailed and damning.

That kind of talk won't win her any big campaign donations.

She knows what she is doing - the right thing + brilliant campaign strategy.

Well done. :applause:

:KICK:

Her running for president is the point of the words. You have the two reversed.

I've been watching the Ethanol market for quite sometime now. Most of the players have been busy with acquisitions, distribution, suppliers etc.. All are primed to get up and running setting up initial vending points sporadically throughout the country. The Farmers are thrilled to death to have an easy grow product they are ready to put into production between corn and soybeans, gratified they will contribute greatly to a sizable decrease of our oil consumption.

Now heres the "bad" news. Someone (?Cheney et al?) pulled a few strings at the UN to halt the full on production of corn and soybeans product to market that would essentially put a substantial crimp in our foreign oil dependence. What a coincidence Cheney flew to the Arab Emirates yesterday, for a meeting with OPEC...right after this notice of restraint was announced at the "UN"..

Perhaps some backtracking of this tidbit of information, will point to who gave the order for the 'first of it's kind study,' as tracking back to big Oil company connections, seeking to quash the Ethanol companies from going to full on production to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. And continue the status quo of Big Oil Companies holding us hostage to price gouging.

The UN Link: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22480&Cr=energy&Cr1=

I find the article itself ludicrous. When did the republicans ever worry or care about the public, regarding poverty, health, food security, agriculture, climate change, finance and trade. I'll give them the trade issue..the greed factor is and always has been an overwhelming factor for them. 'One' out of nine reasons reason to stop ethanol production?

Otherwise, I see it as a sham cover up in a concerted attempt to keep an oil company stranglehold in place, continuing to gouge the American people for the sake of boosting profits enriching the oil company's interests and their stockholders.

:eyes: Can we say posturing? Yes, I thought we could.

that concern. I suppose you ride a bicycle to work.:eyes:

Last summer when the same refineries were closed and we were equaly "concerned" when prices were the same, Hillary said; lets see ... umm, no wait, she didnt say a thing ... but oh yeah, she wasnt in the middle of the big CAMPAIGN then.

She's proven this time and time again in my area of northern rural NY.

Glad to recommmend!

In the IRS non-profit section of the IRS code...Legislation was passed early on relieving Oil companys of paying any sort of Tax on equipment used for oil exploration and drilling. They are long past the virginal stages of not having the resources for their own business dealing using a FREE PASS given them by legislators 20-30 yrs ago, in lieu of paying their fair share of Taxes like everyone else. Inventory Tax, Sales Tax, tangible property tax... That whole Tax section located in 501 non-profit section, should be held up for review and Taxed accordingly.

Just sayin-

Let's see if the Goddess of Peace (GoP) pushes for hearings in the Senate, as Dennis has in the House.

And I'm sure these CEO's are just quaking in their boots anticipating that Kucinich Presidency!!!

about having to answer questions under oath under penalty of perjury.

He sent a letter which will be followed up with subpoenas. Damn Right Ooooooooh!

I can see it now, the oily CEO's; "I do not believe that oil is an addictive substance."

she should co-sponser:

http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=273480&

"WASHINGTON, DC - With gasoline prices over $3 a gallon in some parts of the country and the cost of driving expected to rise significantly during the summer months, U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) joined with a bipartisan group of Senators in offering legislation that will outlaw gas price gouging, guaranteeing fair prices at the pump.

According to the most recent Energy Information Data, the nation's demand for gasoline is steadily rising, outpacing the growth in our refinery capacity and forcing us to import more foreign fuel. As of May 1, 2007, a gallon of regular gasoline averaged $2.97, and some industry analysts expect the cost to reach $4 a gallon by Memorial Day.

The Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act, introduced today by Senators Biden, Maria Cantwell (D- WA), Gordon Smith(R-OR), and John Kerry (D- MA) will provide a new statutory ban on manipulative practices in the wholesale petroleum markets; new measures to ensure transparency for petroleum prices; and enact new civil and criminal penalties for companies that break the rules. "


Hot air gets us nowhere. Let her put herself on the line...

she can add a whole new twist to the Bill. If someone does the research and backtracked on the UN's findings... She may be able to blow the whole thing wide open. If it can be proven there is direct manipulation by oil companys to subvert bio fuel from going into full production and tie it to the White House...it would be awesome! Biden can join her on this newest bill.

it should NEVER go into "full production".

Corn is food. It would take more energy (read fossil fuel primarily) to create the ethanol than the energy contained in the ethanol.

In order of efficacy we should be stressing (and supporting with HUGE outlays and supports):

1) Conservation

2) Truly clean energy production technologies available NOW
(net gain, cost vs. energy produced):
Solar, Wind, Water, Geothermal, Bio-Deisel
preferably de-centralized.

3) Future clean energy production:
BioFuels from non-food sources

I read a report on how quickly we would be depleting the soil in our "breadbasket" states if the present "alternative" fuel scheme gets enacted. Amazing that we would rather starve ourselves then drive less.
But on a bright note they could always extend the soil cycle through fertilization with oil based products :)