House GOP Blocks Vote On Oil Subsidies ,,,

[one_voice]

Republicans on Thursday unanimously voted down a motion from Democrats to consider legislation to end subsidies to oil companies.

Democrats sought to attach the measure, which failed in a 241-171 vote that saw seven Democrats defect, to a bill that would allow oil companies to more easily secure drilling permits off the Gulf Coast. That bill passed.

Speaker Boehner suggested in an interview with ABC last month that he was open to ending oil subsidies, prompting calls from the White House on down to quickly pass legislation doing so

*snip*

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/house-gop-blocks-vote-on-oil-subsidies.php?ref=fpb

more here

Exxon Makes $30.5 Billion, So GOP Votes Unanimously To Give Them Tax Breaks

Exxon Mobil is by far the most profitable company in the new Fortune 500 list, riding “high oil prices to a staggering $30 billion in income” in 2010. Exxon made over $10 billion more than fellow oil giant Chevron, the third most profitable company (AT&T edged out Chevron for the number two spot). ConocoPhillips’ $11.4 billion in profits put it in the 16th spot, giving the three oil giants a combined $60.9 billion in profits in 2010.

Today, the Republicans in the House of Representatives celebrated this massive redistribution of wealth from American families to oil executives. With the support of 7 oil-patch Democrats, 234 Republicans voted to block a bill to eliminate a $1.8 billion annual subsidy that treats oil drilling as “domestic manufacturing”:

House Republicans rejected an effort by Democrats Thursday to use a procedural maneuver to force a vote on a bill to repeal a key oil industry tax break.

*snip*

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/05/exxon-profits-gop-loves/

[fascisthunter]

1. House GOP Prefers big Business to Ordinary Voters

and the suckers still vote for them.

[abelenkpe]

2. Subsidies or tax breaks?

Exxon....they get tax breaks plus subsidies?

[Old and In the Way]

3. Someday, even the idiots who still vote for Republicans will figure it out.

But I won't hold my breath.

[gratuitous]

4. Gosh, if only there was some way to make a political issue out of this

But how? I mean, can you imagine how devastating it would be to depict Republicans as more sensitive to handing out money to incredibly profitable oil companies than they are to helping the American people? It would just knock all their ersatz populism into a cocked hat!

[asjr]

11. Republicans are definitely anti-American.

There are other names we can call them, but they do act anti-American. That is what I shall call them. It fits them perfectly.

[robinlynne]

5. Seven Democrats defected? they are NOT Democrats.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. This is what President Obama faces. That's why I can't understand why so many here

on DU blame him for everything. The Republicans--and some Democrats--are obstructionists. They want us to blame Obama rather than point the finger squarely at them.

It's so frustrating!!!

[RKP5637]

10. I agree with you so much! I once heard Obama remark something to the

effect that he was amazed at all of the levers of power when he got to DC.

I think he realized that wealth holds the power and runs this country, and finally that "The Republicans--and some Democrats--are obstructionists."

Unless the citizens in this country wake up, the America we knew is going to be long gone. I just don't know anymore what the F ails people when they vote.

I am really starting to conclude a good portion of Americans are just plain stupid. They allow themselves to be propagandized. The country is clearly under siege and so many Americans just can't seem to get their heads out of their asses, learn the issues and vote in decent politicians.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

14. No shortage of Stupid in this country...

...if we could run our cars and heat our homes with Stupid, these fucking oil companies would be obsolete. Unfortunately, Stupid has as many dangerous and damaging side effects as oil & gas drilling does.

[valerief]

16. It's all the religious indoctrination that makes them submissive. nt

[valerief]

15. Can't he threaten them a la LBJ? They need to be out-thugged. nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. LBJ succeeded for two primary reasons: He had more *liberal* Democrats

and even some liberal to moderate Republicans who could join liberal Democrats to produce winning coalitions. The racist Southern Democrats and Republicans were too few to make a difference at that time.

The other reason is that the attitude towards government and its role was vastly different back then. Most Americans saw the goverment as important. After the Watergate Scandal, there was a marked decline in the confidence of government, coupled with 30-plus years of anti-government propaganda.

FDR, LBJ could succeed because the crop of Democrats AND Republicans were different and more reasonable. Obama is dealing with a bunch of wingnuts. Even Bill Clinton had an opportunity to work with reasonably moderate Republicans. Obama has very few.

[valerief]

18. Well, all the more reason to threaten them, I say! nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. Doesn't make any sense if he has no institutional control over

what Congress does because there aren't enough votes on our side,. Threats do nothing without the power to change the institution. This is not George W. Bush's presidency. This president actually yields to the constitutional doctrine of Separation of Powers.

[valerief]

21. An effective threat is one we never know anything about. The Mafia knows how to threaten. nt

[gratuitous]

19. I don't blame Obama for everything

But in concert with the Democratic leadership in both houses of Congress, he could and should call this sort of nonsense out. As much as I weary of Republican talking points spouted ad nauseam from every media outlet, I have to grudgingly admit that they do a good job of pushing their position, even when it's hopeless. Democrats seem content to just let things slide again and again, rather than putting together a coherent narrative of their vision for running the country.

That is well within the President's capability, but not within his sphere of action. And that is what I will blame him for - silence and inaction.

[RKP5637]

8. No, they surely are not. They are republicans that masquerade as democrats! n/t

[AtomicKitten]

9. FFS that pisses me off. Can't find the names of the 7 yet. Anyone?

[RKP5637]

6. This is ridiculous. I really want to see congressmen forced to wear corporate

logos. Every F'en thing that ensures greed and the failure of America the republicans want and sadly a few democrats follow along. Until the bribery is out of congress this will continue.

The people that vote these F'en clowns in are STUPID. There is just no way getting around that. They are F'en STUPID.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

12. The bill that should not have passed, did...

..the bill that should have passed, did not.

Which "Democrats" voted for the easy oil drilling permit bill?

[spanone]

13. of course not, big oil spreads the money around liberally among the yokels

[think]

22. Republicans & oil mix....nt