Posted on 04/28/2006 5:15:24 PM PDT by litany_of_lies
WASHINGTON In a bitter election year, Congress has finally reached consensus about something this week: Everybody is mad at the oil companies.
The soaring price of gasoline has sent tremors through Capitol Hill, with Republicans and Democrats scurrying for the nearest TV camera to assail the petroleum giants.
Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, wants the Justice Department to use antitrust laws to go after foreign oil exporters, while Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is urging the federal government to stop collecting its gasoline taxes for 60 days.
Senate Republicans countered with a $100 rebate to individuals to cushion the cost of gasoline prices. The GOP plan came with a catch: The Republicans want Congress to approve oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Democrats and a handful of Republicans, including DeWine, oppose oil drilling in the refuge.
And Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington, after saying profit is what America's all about, denounced ExxonMobil for record profits while refusing to pay billions of dollars in punitive damages for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
It is part of a growing worry particularly among Republicans that voters are so angry about high prices at the pump that they will take it out on incumbent members of Congress.
Nobody wants to be on the side of the oil companies and high gasoline prices, said Sherry Bebitch, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California. Will this do anything (to reduce prices)? Of course it won't do anything.
--- SNIP ---
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill co-authored by DeWine that would allow the Justice Department to examine the prices demanded by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which includes Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
It was a mostly symbolic gesture, with some lawmakers acknowledging the legislation would be litigated for years if it becomes law. But DeWine said that if companies in the United States were doing what OPEC is doing today, they could be hauled into court.
(Go to the Dispatch for the rest of the piece)
And now, after years of hamstringing the energy industry, you're shocked, SHOCKED that prices are so high.
Give me a break.
Ohio conservatives have a chance to do something about our RINO Senator on Tuesday. Vote for Bill Pierce.
Previous FR Posts on Pierce:
-- Running Scared in Ohio (RINO DeWine Rips Rumsfeld; yet another reason to vote for Bill Pierce)
-- Press Releases of DeWine Dominated by Pork, Spending (All Reasons to Vote for Bill Pierce on May 2)
-- Bill Pierce, US GOP Senate Candidate to Unseat Mike DeWine in Ohio, on ANWR and Energy
-- Fulton County GOP shuns DeWine (Bill Pierce for Senate!)
-- Bill Pierce for US Senate (Ohio) to Defeat RINO Mike DeWine; Getting Involved
What's the point of having a Republican senator if he almost never votes, acts, or speaks like a Republican?
Vote Bill Pierce on May 2 if you're in Ohio, and spread the word -- there's a legitimate conservative alternative who supports drilling in ANWR and achieving energy independence. He is Bill Pierce.
The grass-roots does not like Mike DeWine, and I mean REALLY doesn't like him. Bill Pierce has defeated Mike DeWine in three of five ballot-based GOP County endorsement processes, and has tied him once; that isn't supposed to happen to a two-term incumbent, BUT IT HAS.
The grass roots is responding to Bill Pierce who is a genuine and articulate conservative and will be the citizen legislator our Founders envisioned, in the mold of a Coburn or DeMint.
Bill Pierce needs our support. (Web Site; Pierce Blog; contribute)
More on Pierce's background and positions is at this previous FR post:
HERE
My personal bumper sticker graphic:
Mike DeWine has only two allies: Apathy, and Inertia. Bill Pierce can crush both of them on May 2 if we support him now, and if Ohio conservatives turn out and vote the issues in the voting booth. Pierce for Senate.
I'm watiing for the corporate windfall profits taxes on McAffee and Norton. Antivirus software is a necessary part of daily life now. Certainly they should be offering their services at a more affordable level. $50? For a copy of a program? < /sarc >
And what about the record industry? Sony and others settled a number of state led class-action lawsuits over price-fixing. Why not sock it to them for gouging customers?
How is it we import so much oil but export 500,000 tons of crude to the NK. Commies. That needs to come to a halt.
Apparently our RINO Congresscritters have forgotten the laws of supply and demand....
Open the ANWR!
People in OH who want to open ANWR are going to have to put DeWine out of a job. Vote for Bill Pierce!
"People in OH who want to open ANWR are going to have to put DeWine out of a job. Vote for Bill Pierce!"
If I lived in Ohio, I certainly would. We need to send a message to these RINOs that we aren't going to put up with their antics anymore. Same way you have to handle a bratty child.
Where did you hear that B.S.?
The politicians are one of the big reasons why gas prices are so high. You have Mike DeWine voting against drilling in ANWR. Then you have Bob Taft and Jean Schmidt raising Ohio's Gas Tax by 6 cents/gallon.
Enough is enough. Bill Pierce for US Senate. Bob McEwen for Congress. DeWine, Taft, and Schmidt can go to hell.
Just curious, what's your response to this vis a vis Schmidt:
NTU Rates Ohios Washington Delegation; BizzyBlog Does the Calcs on Jean Schmidt
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=1460
Schmidt's short-year rating was the same as Boehner's and better than everyone in OH except Chabot. Surprised me.
Of course DeWine stunk up the place.
Mean Jean has known since Day 1 that she'd be facing a challenge from the right in the 2006 primary. She's voting the conservative line now, knowing that if she wins this year it would probably be the last serious challenge against her.
She did the same thing in the Legislature. Went in as a conservative, voted conservative for a couple years, then turned into a Taft and Spend RINO. She voted for Bob Taft's huge Sales Tax hike. Then she voted to raise Ohio's Gas Tax by 27%. Then she authored legislation raising hotel taxes in SW Ohio.
Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. I am no longer fooled by Mike DeWine and Jean Schmidt. Bill Pierce for US Senate. Bob McEwen for US House.
Oh to have another Reagan (sigh).
It's to the point where most of the GOP in congress is bad news.
Bill Pierce will not be. You can take that to the bank.
Study his web site if you doubt it.
pierceforsenate.com
pierceforsenate.blogspot.com
Go see the description of the 15-year battle he had with the Department of Labor that took down his business (go to Amazon and search on "Take Comfort and Solace.")
He has been there, done that when it comes to seeing the ugly underbelly of government, and will be in no mood to put up with any of the typical Washington BS when he gets there.
This guy is the real deal. If you're in OH, vote for him Tuesday and spread the word. If you're not from OH, we'll settle for spreading the word. :-->
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