Obey Blasts Abuse of Power to Give More Breaks to Oil Companies

Obey blasts abuse of power to give more breaks to oil companies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey issued the following statement today after the House Republican leadership held open for 45 minutes what was supposed to be a 5 minute vote in order to force enough members to change their votes on their new energy bill after it had failed, 210 to 212.

"Last month the Republican leadership's answer to surging gas prices was to give $14 billion in sweet-heart subsidies to the energy giants. This week they were willing to abuse their power by, in full public view, arm-twisting enough members to change their votes after their special interest energy bill - which gives away hundreds of millions more in taxpayer dollars to the gluttonous oil companies and undermines the Clean Air Act - had been defeated.

"This outrageous maneuver will do almost nothing to help consumers deal with rising gas prices, but it shows how far the Republican leadership will go to do the bidding of the oil giants who are already bloated with record profits this year."

http://obey.house.gov/HoR/WI07/Newsroom/Press+Releases/Obey+blasts+abuse+of+power+to+give+more+breaks+to+oil+companies.htm