Posted on 05/08/2007 2:07:54 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Democrats slam Big Oil over $3 gasoline prices Tue May 8, 2007 4:46PM EDT
By Tom Doggett
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate's top Democrat on Tuesday accused big oil companies of shutting down refineries temporarily to raise gasoline prices and rake in"obscene profits."
Gasoline prices have topped $3 a gallon at service stations across the country because several oil refineries are offline due to maintenance or accidents, reducing gasoline production and making fuel supplies tight.
"It's outrageous ...Isn't it interesting every year about this time, a refinery goes down for repairs," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
"Is that coincidental? Or is it part of a plan that these multinational, huge companies who are making obscene profits in the tens of billions of dollars -- is this part of their game to keep the profits going?" Reid said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday announced seven congressional hearings in coming weeks on soaring energy prices and plans to put together a proposed package of energy bills by July 4 to address the issue.
"With Memorial Day travel and the start of summer driving only a few weeks away, drivers are paying a heavy price for the Bush administration's failure to enact a comprehensive energy strategy," said Pelosi.
"Years of Bush administration policies that have favored Big Oil over the consumers have resulted in record dependence on foreign oil," the California Democrat added.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It' called Repair and Maintenance, you dumba$$...
While the media continues to blame the big oil companies for gouging U.S. motorists as they collect record breaking profits, the windfall profits raked in by the government in the form of energy tax revenue actually dwarf the oil companies’ jackpot.
Why don’t they rake their friend Hugo Chavez over the coals for a change?
Well it took ‘em long enough. Those donkies are really slipping lately. They would have jumped on this a lot sooner a year ago. I had no idea tha surrender took so much time.
Yes, how dare they do preventive maintenance when they switch from making Home Heating to to Unleaded Gas. Why can’t they do it in the middle of production?
Isn’t it about 50 cents per gallon that the oil companies make? Where does that other $2.50 go, Harry?
despite government tax gouging on oil industry revenue, Democrats like Sen. Charles Schumer want to raise energy taxes even more -
Once again demonstrating that they're economic illiterates. Unfortunately, so are too many Americans.
Big Oil watched Al Gore’s movie and became alarmed about Global Warming so they raised the prices on gas so people would drive less. :)
They have to drain the pipes and tanks to get ready for the summer blend you politicians mandate at frequent intervals. It isn't just one refinery. It's all of them.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Hey, if you they want it, they don’t have to buy it. I may complain all the way to the pump, but I’m there nonetheless. It’s the way it works. Maybe they could carpool instead of taking their limos and huge SUVs.
Construction is temporarily halted at planned refinery site near Yuma
Sigh. And a new refinery hasn't been built in 30 years.
Well..............if the Dems. think they can pass a bill and bring down gas prices, let them try.
If all you had to do to lower gas prices was to pass a bill in Congress, it would have been done years ago.
The refinery capacity is tight because of environmental regulations making it difficult to build new refineries.
Environmental regulations requiring different formulations of gas in different seasons and different parts of the country add to the problem.
The same people who carp about high gas prices are the same people who are against building new refineries, against alternatives such as drilling for more domestic oil, against using more coal, even clean coal technology, and against nuclear power.
Part of our energy problems are because the enviro-Democratic lobbies are against everything that might help.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It ain’t working.
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