Press Releases
Aug 07, 2008
Fore!! Grand Oil Party’s Hypocrisy on Gas Prices Exposed
The Washington Post reported this morning that Minority Leader John Boehner has spent the first week of the congressional recess doing a series of golf outings while a small band of House Republicans remain in Washington to call for "drill only" legislation that does nothing to bring immediate relief to Americans paying high gas prices.
Big Oil tax breaks and subsidies supported by Republicans ... $14 Billion
Political contributions made to Republicans by Big Oil this cycle ... $13.5 Million
Profit earned by the top five Big Oil Companies last quarter ... $44 Billion
Cost of John Boehner's green fees while a small band of House Republicans' express faux outrage about gas prices * ... $240
The Grand Oil Party's hypocrisy about the cost of gas ... Priceless
"Minority Leader Boehner's golf outings this week expose the Grand Oil Party's continued hypocrisy on gas prices," said Jennifer Crider, DCCC Communications Director. "Despite a small band of House Republicans' theatrical ‘outrage' about gas prices this week, House Republicans don't get mulligans - or do overs - when it comes to their pro-Big Oil record."
"Republicans are protecting $14 billion worth of tax breaks and subsidies for Big Oil companies earning billions of dollars in profits while middle class Americans struggle to fill up the family minivan. While Republicans whiff on high gas prices, Democrats will continue to fight for commonsense, bipartisan solutions to lower gas prices."
The Grand Oil Party's Score on Lowering Gas Prices
|
Democratic Solution to Lower Gas Prices |
House Republican Response |
President Bush's Response |
Outcome |
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Use It or Lose It - requiring oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land they already lease |
|
|
Status Quo |
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Ending tax breaks for Big Oil companies |
|
|
Status Quo |
|
Expediting leases for drilling and federal pipeline development in Alaska's Energy Reserve |
|
|
Status Quo |
|
Cracking down on gas price gouging |
|
|
Status Quo |
|
Releasing gas from the government stockpile
|
|
|
Status Quo |
BACKGROUND
* Minority Leader Boehner's green fee totals excludes the initiation fee and dues for use of the private Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio and the Wetherington Golf and Country Club in West Chester, Ohio.
- Boehner and the Bunker Mentality [Washington Post, 08/07/08]
- Average cost of a gallon of gas is $3.85 [www.fuelgaugereport.com]. For those keeping score, John Boehner's green fees would have purchased more than 62 gallons of gas.
- Nearly 75 percent of all Big Oil campaign contributions - $13.5 million - have gone to Republicans this cycle. [Center for Responsive Politics]
