The bill of the Environmental Parliament to end big oil subsidies in Washington died this past week, because 48 Republican Senators, including three Democrats, put Big Oil interests before the American people and defeated a bill that would have ended $ 21 Billion in subsidies for the five biggest oil companies.
Here are the 48 Senators who voted against ending the $ 21 Billion in Big Oil subsidies:
Alexander (R-TN), Ayotte (R-NH), Barrasso (R-WY), Begich (D-AK), Blunt (R-MO), Boozman (R-AR), Brown (R-MA), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coats (R-IN), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Hatch (R-UT), Heller (R-NV), Hoeven (R-ND), Hutchison (R-TX), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johanns (R-NE), Johnson (R-WI), Kirk (R-IL), Kyl (R-AZ), Landrieu (D-LA), Lee (R-UT), Lugar (R-IN), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Moran (R-KS), Murkowski (R-AK), Nelson (D-NE), Paul (R-KY), Portman (R-OH), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Rubio (R-FL), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Toomey (R-PA), Vitter (R-LA), Wicker (R-MS)
Because of these US senators acting in the interest of their paymaster, we didn’t get the 60 votes required for passage, of our Environmental Parliament initiated bill to end Big oil subsidies for the richest oil companies, paid by the over stressed American taxpayer.
And the only reason why they voted this way is the humongous amount of oil money, oiling the US political process.
And for the oil companies is good business. Because the big oil and gas companies spent only $39.5 million lobbying the US congress in the first quarter of this year and got $ 21 Billion in taxpayer subsidies. Sounds like a great deal to me. A great return on investment and a sound business decision…
Except that US government and the Senators are not supposed to be up for sale…
Because that $160 million spent by the oil majors to acquire the consciousness of the US senators over the course of this year is slated to rise significantly with this Presidential election cycle starting to go full tilt.
And most importantly the Big oil major companies have donated directly, $18 million to the 48 Senators who voted to protect oil subsidies.
How is that working for you and how is that for fairness and independence in politics?
Yours,
Pano
PS:
Still our work to end oil subsidies is working.
Because more and more US legislators are acting defensively about their support of Big Oil over the basic interests of the American people.
This shows a recognition that things have moved on…
Maybe we will be able to move beyond the simple equation of corporate coffers and treasure in exchange for Senate votes this voting cycle…
Then again, best policy is to curb your expectations and don’t hold your own vote hostage to the big oil senators this time around.
Exercise your rights:
Boot these 48 losers out of office for good.
