Berkley Votes Against Latest GOP Special Interest Energy Bill

Berkley Votes Against Latest GOP Special Interest Energy Bill

Package Lacks Tough Price Gouging Protections, Will Keep Gas Prices High

(Washington, DC -- October 7, 2005) Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today voted against Republican legislation that fails to protect Nevada families against price gouging, provides costly incentives to oil companies and refiners at a time of record earnings, and does little to address the steep jump in gas prices that have left Las Vegas drivers feeling the pinch at the pump. Despite unanimous Democratic opposition, the GOP bill passed on a party line vote of 212-210. Republican leaders bent House rules to hold the vote open for 45 minutes, rather than the standard 5 minutes, in order to twist the arms needed for their partisan victory.

"While Republicans are busy patting themselves on the back for providing oil companies with even more tax breaks, Las Vegas drivers are still struggling with near record gas prices. This bill will not save Nevadans pennies at the pump, but it will boost the bottom line for ExxonMobil and other oil companies already racking up record profits at the expense of consumers," said Berkley, who pointed to an increase this year of more than 70% in oil company earnings.

Berkley noted that the GOP "GAS" bill fails to give State Attorneys General the ability to enforce the price gouging provisions, does not impose tough new penalties for price gouging and applies only when a national disaster disrupts the energy supply and only in areas hit by that disaster. Berkley did vote in favor of Democratic legislation that would have given the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) explicit authority to combat price gouging, but the package was defeated by Republicans on a party-line vote.

"Rather than creating stiff penalties, the GOP bill does little to protect drivers left at the mercy of rich oil barons and it blocks Nevada's Attorney General from enforcing price gouging provisions. We need strong regulations that will punish those who break the law, not regulations designed to let big oil off the hook when crimes are committed. And the price gouging provisions only apply when and where a natural disaster disrupts energy supplies, even though we know that this rip-off occurs rain or shine," Berkley said.

According to the National Energy Assistance Survey report, in fiscal year 2005, the typical household spent an average of 14% of their annual income on residential energy. This year, with record high gas prices and no relief in sight, energy bills are expected to increase by approximately 71%. The GOP energy bill passed today will do next to nothing to address this growing burden on Nevada households.

"With oil industry earnings expected to leap 73 percent next quarter, the Republican cronies in the oil and gas industry don't need a hand out from Congress -- it's Southern Nevada families who are in need of real relief at the gas pump," said Berkley.

Berkley is also opposed to provisions in the Republican bill creating a fund to pay oil companies if they are sued, even when they lose in court, and which preempt state and local zoning regulations related to the siting of oil refineries.

http://www.house.gov/berkley/legis/otr/press_releases/2005/pr_2005_1007.html